BJP not for continuing composite dialogue with Pakistan

New Delhi, Dec 20 (PTI) Accusing the ruling United
Progressive Alliance (UPA) of losing grip of the situation in
the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks, the main opposition
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has suggested that the government
should call off composite dialogue with Pakistan as that
country has not responded adequately to India's demands.

BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said the government seemed to
lack "cohesion" of thinking as senior ministers were speaking
in different voices on the issue of dealing with Pakistan.

The former External Affairs Minister said New Delhi
should build pressure on Islamabad by sending high-level
political emissaries to various countries, besides the US and
UK, with "incontrovertible" proof of involvement of Pakistani
elements in the Mumbai attacks.

"Not judging between strength and weakness, somewhere the
grip seems to have loosened over the last few days. Our
government seems to speaking in different voices," Sinha told
Karan Thapar in the interview 'Devil's Advocate' on private
television channel CNN-IBN.

"We heard the External Affairs Minister (Pranab
Mukherjee) say one thing, Defence minister (A K Antony) say
another thing on the same day (on dealing with Pakistan). I
think it will be better if there was unity and cohesion within
the spokespersons of the government," he added.

He said the ministers should discuss more among
themselves and "come to a clear conclusion. There is lack of
cohesion in thinking."

On how to deal with Pakistan, he said if his party were
in power, it would have opted to "call off the composite
dialogue" rather than putting a "pause" as has been done by
the UPA government.

Making it clear that his party was not satisfied with the
measures taken by Islamabad to meet New Delhi's demands for
curbing terrorism, Sinha said "well, Pakistan has taken some
steps. But, clearly Pakistan is not doing enough. I think what
Pakistan has done is most inadequate if not eye-wash".

When asked if it wasn't enough for the government to rope
in the US and UK to build pressure on Pakistan, the BJP leader
suggested that the government should have approached other
countries too.

"It is alright to rope in US and UK but I would prefer
the government to send out emissaries to all important
capitals of the world. Why should we ignore Paris, Berlin and
many other capitals," Sinha said.

He said India should send high level political emissaries
to important capitals of the world with "incontrovertible
evidence of the involvement of Pakistan and even taken them on
board on our side."

When asked if he or his party leader L K Advani would
have accepted to be such an emissary, he said, "I think we
would have certainly taken up this national duty."

The saffron party feels that the UPA was wrong to
restrict itself in fixing responsibility merely on the
'elements of Pakistan'.

He said if BJP were in power it would have held ISI as
also the government of Pakistan responsible.

Commenting on US President-elect Barack Obama's reported
intention to mediate on Kashmir issue, Sinha said any such
initiative would not be acceptable to India.

"We should discourage and strongly discourage any attempt
by anyone including President-elect (Barack) Obama to dabble
into the issue of Jammu and Kashmir," Sinha said.

When asked if BJP's views would remain the same if it
comes to power after the general elections, he said, "I am
making it crystal clear today that no mediation by any envoy
is acceptable to India." PTI JOY
PMR
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