CPI (M) urges govt to take stand on Indo-Pak NSA-level talks

New Delhi, Aug. 19 : Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Wednesday urged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA government to take a stand on the upcoming National Security Advisor (NSA)-level talks between India and Pakistan.

Yechury further said government should not appear as if they do not have any agenda or direction in the matter.

“Let the government decide and take its stand. They should tell either the Parliament or the country what is it that they are doing. As soon as this government assumed office we were all told, even during elections that this is ’56-inch chest’ and they will act strongly. What we are seeing is a complete vacillation,” Yechury told ANI.

“Without any perspective on how Indo-Pak relations have to develop or what is the government’s roadmap or vision…Let it not appear as if India lacks any agenda or direction,” he added.

Ahead of the upcoming NSA-level talks, Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit extended an invitation to the Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani and other Hurriyat leaders for Pakistan NSA Sartaj Aziz’s reception party to be held on August 23.

Aziz will arrive in the national capital on August 23 for the NSA-level talks with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval.

Last year, India had cancelled the foreign secretary level talks with Pakistan after Basit met Kashmiri separatists ahead of the planned meet. (ANI)