New Delhi: Opposition Congress today said that the meeting between Hurriyat leaders and Pakistani envoy Abdul Basit in national capital was not in the interest of nation.
Speaking to media, Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said that the talks between India and Pakistan should be held for peace and not for encouraging separatism.
"It is because of such incidents that talks were cancelled last time. Pakistan encouraging the separatists is not in the interest of the nation. The talks should be held, it should be held for peace and not to encourage separatism," Tiwari said.
"If the talks were cancelled last time after they met separatists, then the government should clarify why talks should continue after these talks," Tiwari added.
Nothing has changed between India-Pak: Shiv Sena
Also the BJP's key ally Shiv Sena said that the meeting between Hurriyat leaders and Basit was concrete proof that the ties between the two neighbouring nations remained hostile.
"I just read Sushma's statement where she is saying that nothing has changed on ground between India and Pakistan and it is true and the example of that happened yesterday. On our soil, in the national capital, under our noses the Pakistan High Commissioner is inviting people who want to wage a war on India and we are simply watching the show," Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said.
Yesterday, while speaking in the Lok Sabha, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj admitted that nothing has changed on the ground between India and Pakistan and that it was not possible to give the assurance of an uninterruptible dialogue with Pakistan.
On Monday, two hardliner Hurriyat Conference leaders met Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit in Delhi to discuss the recent visit of Sushma Swaraj to Islamabad where she met Pakistan's top leadership.
Last week, during Swaraj's visit to Pakistan, it was announced that the Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan will meet next month to discuss the details of the comprehensive bilateral dialogue.
According to the joint statement released by both nations, the discussions will involve peace and security, Jammu and Kashmir, Siachen, Economic and Commercial Cooperation, Counter-Terrorism, Humanitarian Issues, People to People exchanges and religious tourism.
