Photographs: Reuters
Expressing concern on the shocking revelations made by David Headley implicating the Inter Services Intelligence with 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has urged the Central government not to suspend the composite dialogue with Pakistan.
"Violence is no option. And, therefore, any sort of knee-jerk reaction where we suspend any dialogue or talks (with Pakistan) will only be counterproductive for India," Abdullah told mediapersons in Srinagar.
"As far as taking up matters diplomatically is concerned, I believe it is obviously something that government of India is going to have to do, if it becomes clear as reports are suggesting about the linkages between the ISI and that case that is going on the United States of America. Clearly, this is something that has implications for India's relationship with Pakistan and I believe it something that needs to be taken up diplomatically," he said.
..
'I don't recommend any sort of knee-jerk reaction'
"What I don't recommend is any sort of knee jerk reaction that we have seen in the past because there is no alterative to dialogue with Pakistan. So, while I would obviously expect that such things should be taken up diplomatically, I don't believe that should be at the cost of any sort of dialogue," he added.
Abdullah was answering questions on links between ISI, Lashkar-e-Tayiba and David Hadley in engineering the 26/11 Mumbai attack as brought out by Headley's testimony of the trial of 26/11 in a Chicago court.
Headley's trial adds up to US-Pak discord
Photographs: Reuters
Headley's trial comes at a time of growing discord in the United States about Pakistan's commitment to fight extremism, after the Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was killed by US Special Forces in a compound near Islamabad.
Meanwhile, Abdullah also confirmed reports that nearly 30-40 militants had entered India from across the border, aided by the speedy melting of the snow in the upper reaches of the Indo-Pakistan Line of Control.
"There are credible inputs about successful infiltration attempts by about 30 to 40 militants," he added.
article