[Reader-list] Don’t resume talks with Pakistan: Kashmiri Pandits

[Aditya Raj Kaul]

Don’t resume talks with Pakistan: Kashmiri Pandits
*Jammu, June 21 (IANS)* A Kashmiri Pandit group, Panun Kashmir, has warned
India against resuming talks with Pakistan under US pressure.

“Linking improvement in situation in Pakistan or for that matter in Kashmir
as a basis of Kashmir resolution is a suicidal move,” said Ajay Charungoo,
chairman of the Panun Kashmir, at a seminar here Sunday.

Many speakers at the seminar, ‘Handling of J&K and its contours and
implications’, organised by the Panun Kashmir urged India not to restore the
peace process with Pakistan, which was stalled following the Nov 26 terror
attack in Mumbai last year. India has been blaming “elements” in Pakistan
for the Mumbai carnage which killed over 170 people.

US President Barack Obama has said he would like India and Pakistan to have
a dialogue to resolve their differences but ruled out any mediation in the
process.

“I believe that there are opportunities, maybe not starting with Kashmir but
starting with other issues, that Pakistan and India can be in a dialogue
together and over time try to reduce tensions and find areas of common
interest,” Obama told Pakistan’s Dawn group in an interview published
Sunday.

New Delhi has maintained that peace talks with Islamabad would resume only
after Pakistan takes “credible” action to stop “anti-India terror
activities” from its soil.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently said New Delhi was prepared to meet
Islamabad “more than halfway” if the latter takes “strong, effective and
sustained action” against terrorists.

“Manmohan Singh should not have said that he is willing to meet more than
half way in holding talks with Islamabad if the terror is tamed there. These
offers should wait till anti-India terrorism in Pakistan is brought to a
complete halt,” Charungoo said.

Congress leader and Jammu University teacher Hari Om also urged India “to
assert its position rather than being driven by the US”.