Sufficient ground not to hold talks with Pak: BJP

The BJP and the CPI were today divided over the issue of holding talks with Pakistan in the wake of killing of five Indian soldiers, with the main opposition saying there is sufficient ground not to hold dialogue with the neighbouring country.

'Five soldiers have been killed right now... There is sufficient ground to declare that Indian Prime Minister will not hold any talks with Pakistan till they fulfil the commitment given to (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee by Pakistani authorities,' BJP leader M M Joshi said.

The main opposition has always insisted that the January 6, 2004 joint statement between the two countries- signed by then Prime Minister Vajpayee and President Pervez Musharraf- should be the basis for all bilateral engagement between the two nations.

In the joint statement, Pakistan had committed not to allow territories under its control to be used for terrorism against India.

Joshi's statement assumes significance in the wake of reports that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may hold bilateral talks with his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif during his forthcoming visit to the US for United Nations General Assembly meeting.

At the same time, CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta said peace negotiations with the neighbouring nation should continue.

He, however, condemned the killing of five Indian jawans at Poonch sector along the Line of Control (LoC) by Pakistani Army.

'Every incident, which leads to the loss of life, should be combated by India fearlessly. And every piece of incident has to be taken care of,' Dasgupta said.