Suspend peace talks with Pak, says BJP. Do YOU agree?

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday demanded suspension of peace talks with Pakistan but disfavoured snapping diplomatic ties in the wake of the brutal killing of two Indian soldiers on the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

"We should tell Pakistan that we will not talk till you implement the agreements signed so far. But at the same time, we will not sever the diplomatic ties," BJP leader Yashwant Sinha told reporters in New Delhi.

He admitted that the National Democratic Alliance government, led by then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had also perhaps committed the "mistake" by engaging the neighbour in talks.

Sinha, who was the external affairs minister in the NDA government, said Pakistan could not be trusted even on agreements it signs with India and should be treated as an "enemy" for breaching accords.

"Every government thinks that it can talk sweetly with Pakistan but forgets that it (Pakistan) is being controlled by its military which wants to maintain its enmity with us," he said, adding, "may be we also committed the same mistake".

At the party briefing, BJP spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain referred to reports of alleged 26/11 Mumbai attack perpetrator Hafiz Saeed's presence along the LoC when the Indian soldiers were killed.

"Talks have no meaning till Pakistan hands over Hafiz Saeed to India. We want Hafiz Saeed alive," Hussain said. He referred to the January 2004 agreement with Pakistan when Vajpayee had visited Islamabad.

"Then Pakistan had agreed that it will not allow its land or land within its control to be used for promoting violence against India. Pakistan has also violated this agreement," Hussain said.

The BJP spokesman said the government should understand the sentiments of the people before going ahead with talks with Pakistan.

"The government should put pressure on Pakistan. Their cricket team came here and played but this despicable game of their team of terrorists should stop immediately," he said.

On remarks by Congress leaders asking the BJP to refrain from politicising the killing of soldiers, Hussain said politics was a medium to convey the sentiments of the people to the government

"Does the expression of anguish and anger against Pakistan hurt Congress? Does it want to tell us not to protest at the Pakistan High Commission? Does Congress consider politics as bad," he asked.

Replying to questions, Hussain condemned the reported meeting of Kashmiri separatist leaders with Saeed and Syed Salahuddin.

"It is unfortunate that separatist leaders have met Saeed. The BJP condemns its. We cannot tolerate any Indian meeting persons who are wanted in the country," the BJP spokesman said.

To questions on the hike in rail fares, Hussain said price rise has followed to whichever ministry the Congress has ventured into.

"Neither does this government care for (rail) budget nor Parliament. People felt that railways was one area where despite shortcomings on service at least the prices were not increased," he said.

On Naxals stuffing the body of a Central Reserve Police Force jawan with explosives, Hussain wondered where the "so-called" human rights activists were.

"Why are human rights activists not condemning this action? Are the rights of security personnel not covered under human rights," the BJP spokesman said.

Image: An Border Security Force soldier patrols near the fenced border with Pakistan in Suchetgarh, southwest of Jammu | Photograph: Mukesh Gupta/Reuters