Nawaz Sharif has no control over his army or the Inter-Services Intelligence: Yashwant Sinha

Describing the terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir as extremely unfortunate, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yashwant Sinha on Thursday said there is no point in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh having talks with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, as the latter has no control over his army or the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Sinha said there is no meaning in the two Asian neighbours talking following Thursday's attacks.

“How can we have talks with a PM who has no control over his army and the ISI? If Pakistan’s army doesn't want talks to be held with India, what is the point of talking to a PM who has no control over his army,” he said.

The attack comes a day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh left for the US yesterday, where he is scheduled to meet his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on Sunday for talks.

Today’s attack is seen as a bid to derail the meeting between the two sides.

In a major attack, the militants have killed at least 12 people in a police station and an army cantonment in Jammu and Kashmir this morning.

Over a dozen people are injured and more casualties are feared.

The militants first attacked a police station in Hiranagar of Kathua district. According to reports, six policemen and three civilians have been killed in the attack on the police station.

The militants later intercepted a truck on the highway, boarded it and forced its driver to move towards Jammu. The militants stopped the vehicle near the gate of an army camp in Samba and attacked the camp

The militants started firing inside the army area, initiating the encounter with the security personnel.

A gun-battle is still on. Further details are awaited.