Congress asks Narendra Modi to clear his stand on Pakistan

Ahead of the Foreign Secretary- level talks between India and Pakistan, the Congress today reminded the Narendra Modi government that talks and terror cannot go hand-in-hand and urged the Prime Minister to come clear on his policy for the neighbouring country. Congress spokesperson and former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid took potshots at Modi and said honesty from his government is required.

"Before trying to be honest with Pakistan and trying to get Pakistan be honest with us, it is important that we are honest among ourselves. We want to know what their (government) policy is," he said during the daily press briefing at the AICC here. Asked if the party was against the upcoming talks, he said that he along with the nation believes that good relations with Pakistan is for the betterment of all. However, he questioned why the government has suddenly decided to go for talks.

"When BJP was in the Opposition, they use to say that terror and talks cannot go hand-in-hand. We agree with that," he said. According to Khurshid, India should have "some deliverables" to start dialogue with Pakistan and wondered if there was improvement or expectation of improvement in bilateral relations from the other side. "The government should tell in clear terms what is the change in the situation ... Whether an improvement has happened from the earlier situation. No such work has been undertaken over which we can say that we are satisfied," he said. The former External Affairs Minister said that when the government clearly specifies why the talks are being held, then only the Congress would be able to say clearly whether it is against or for talks.