India's sudden offer of resuming talks with Pakistan has made senior BJP leader L K Advani wonder whether the "U-turn" in the policy was "upshot of a powerful nudge from Washington".
"New Delhi's sudden announcement last week that India was willing to hold Foreign Secretary level parleys with Pakistan has naturally made many political analysts in the country ask: Is this the consequence of Obama's above assertion being put into action?" Advani wrote in his blog.
He was referring to US President Barack Obama's remarks in a media interview during the presidential campaign that "working with Pakistan and India to try to resolve the Kashmir crisis in a serious way" would be among the critical tasks of his administration if he was elected.
"The question people have been asking in a more straight forward manner is: After the 26/11 attack on Mumbai, India had been steadfastly refusing to resume talks with Pakistan until Islamabad brings those behind the Mumbai attacks to justice and cracks down on terrorist groups operating on its soil; is its latest U-turn on dialogue the upshot of a powerful nudge from Washington?" Advani wondered.
He noted that no Government can disregard the unanimous resolution adopted by the Lok Sabha on February 22, 1994 that declares Jammu and Kashmir an integral part of India and condemns Pakistan's continued support and encouragement to subversive and terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
Dubbing the talks offer to Pakistan as a "volte-face" by India, Advani wrote, "Little wonder, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, speaking in Pak-occupied Kashmir last Friday boasted gleefully that it was international pressure that had forced India to return to the negotiating table!"
At a point of time when Pakistan seems to be gloating over the UPA Government's volte face, it would be pertinent to recall how categoric and unambiguous this parliamentary resolution has been, he said.
"The state of Jammu and Kashmir has been, is and shall be an integral part of India and any attempts to separate it from the rest of the country will be resisted by all necessary means," he wrote quoting the resolution. The resolution also states that Pakistan must vacate the areas of Jammu and Kashmir, which they have occupied through aggression. "All attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of India will be met resolutely," it adds. PTI
