New Delhi: Members of the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) expressed their difference in opinions on the National Security Adviser (NSA)-level talks between India and Pakistan scheduled to be held in New Delhi over the weekend.
It has been reported that the parties in power in the states of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab are in favour of engagement with Pakistan, whereas the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra vetoed the talks.
“There are three kinds of establishments running affairs in Pakistan. One is the civilian government of Nawaz Sharif, then the Army and its extension the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI),” said Naresh Gujral, Rajya Sabha member from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), with which the BJP is in government in Punjab.
“It is good for our government to engage in dialogue with the civilian government in Pakistan and since we are a border State, we would prefer an engagement in dialogue,” he said.
Punjab was shaken up after terrorists took hold of a police station in Dinanagar in Gurdaspur district of the State, earlier this month, which led to the deaths of seven people including that of the Superintendent of Police, Gurdaspur. This was a rare attack which took place across the International Border (IB) rather than the Line of Control (LoC).
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and chief of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who rules the State along with the BJP, also advocated talks. “I pray for the success of the NSA-level talks,” he had said even as an air of uncertainty hangs over the event.
The Shiv Sena, however, made it clear that the party saw no point in talks between India and the civilian government of Pakistan. “Our stand is very clear. We do not believe that Mr. Nawaz Sharif has any power to influence policy in Pakistan, which is in the hands of jihadist elements. In such a situation, there seems to be no point in engaging in dialogue with his government. India should take a firm stand against terror and those States that sponsor terror,” Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut told a daily.
