NSA-level talks represent the greatest betrayal of national interest: Congress

Criticising the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance government's decision for holding a National Security Advisor-level meet between India and Pakistan in Bangkok, the Congress Party said the government's series of flip flops since it came to power depicts less productive outcome from such a meet between the two neighbouring countries.

"The Congress has always supported peaceful resolution of all disputes with neighbours through dialogue as also in a spirit of mutual co-operation and co-existence. The Modi government has, however, neither spelled out the specifics nor the framework for engagement with Pakistan or taken Parliament or political parties into confidence," Congress leader R S Surjewala said in a statement.

"It has been constant series of flip flop since May 2014, which doesn't inspire great enthusiasm about the NSA meet in Bangkok," it added.

Surjewala added that the meet further raised 'valid concerns' whether it was not an attempt by the Modi government to 'divert the country's attention away from the political and economic challenges as also widespread agrarian crisis across India'.

The Shiv Sena on Monday said that having talks with the hostile neighbour was pointless as their main goal was to destroy India by sponsoring terrorism and added that no amount of talks would solve the strained ties between the two nations.

“Going to a third nation and discussing the problems between India and Pakistan shows the relationship between the nations. While their talks keep happening, Kashmir continues to get infiltrated and ceasefire violations are on the rise,” Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said.

However, he admitted his respect for Indian NSA Ajit Doval and said that he did not doubt his capabilities, but questioned the benefit of the dialogue with his Pakistan counterpart Nasir Janjua.

“Shiv Sena has always been against any ties with Pakistan. Time and again we have had dialogues w and India has always bent its knees to them. Pakistan-sponsored terrorism never ends and terrorism can’t exist in India without Pakistan’s support,” Raut said.

He demanded to know why the talks were happening saying that the nation was waiting for an answer as well and added that the outcome of the NSA-level talks would vindicate the Shiv Sena’s stand.

“Pakistan has always been hell-bent on destroying India and they have been against us from the start. While we share sweet words with them, here our soldiers and people are dying,” Raut added.  

The NSAs of India and Pakistan met in Bangkok on Sunday and held discussions on various issues of mutual interest, including terrorism and Jammu and Kashmir.

The meeting between the two NSAs -- who were accompanied by foreign secretaries of their respective nations -- was an outcome of the short meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the United Nations Climate Conference in Paris recently.