Bahartiya Janta Party (BJP) on Tuesday welcomed the government’s decision to call off the Indo-Pak foreign secretary level talks.The Government of India called off the talks to protest against Pakistan High Commissioner in New Delhi Abdul Basit’s decision to invite Kashmiri separatist leaders for parleys ahead of crucial Indo-Pak foreign secretary level talks, which were slated to be held on Aug 25 in Islamabad.BJP’s Kashmir spokesman Khalid Jehangir in a statement here said, “The GoI has taken a bold decision and has made it clear to Pakistan that it has to fall in line if it wants cordial relations between two countries.”
Jehangir ridiculed the separatists for what he said, “registering attendance” at the Pakistan consulate in New Delhi. “They (separatists) have been visiting Pak consulate and Islamabad frequently for the past 22-years. Someone needs to ask them what have they achieved by doing so?” Jehangir asked. He said, “Separatists are accountable to people and not Pakistan. Jammu and Kashmir has been witnessing the bloodbath for the past two decades and people are fed up of violence. If separatists are really concerned about the welfare of people they should come forward and contest the elections and prove their representative character. They (separatists) holding meaningless talks with Pakistan and its officials won’t serve any purpose.”
Jehangir said that BJP believes in “result oriented talks” and is committed to end the miseries of masses. Taking a dig at National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party and the Jammu Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee for criticizing the government for calling off talks with Pakistan, Jehangir said, “These parties change their colour like chameleon and believe in double standards. They issue ambiguous statements to mislead people.” (KNS)