A day after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti called for dialogue with Pakistan to end the bloodshed in the state, the BJP today said talks were not suitable at a time when the neighbouring country was “supporting” militant attacks.
“Amid the sound of bullets and spilt blood, a certain section is advocating talks between Pakistan and India, which is not at all suitable at a time when Pakistan is openly supporting militant attacks in the state,” J&K BJP spokesperson Sunil Sethi told reporters here.
He said the Centre takes a call on talks with Pakistan and there was no scope of interference by others.
Dialogue can be considered if Pakistan “pulls back” from supporting subversive acts in the region and the environment is conducive, he said.
Mehbooba yesterday said in the assembly: “If Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti say hold talks with Pakistan, they are dubbed anti-national. There is no alternative except talks. If we don’t talk about it, who will?”
“Dialogue with Pakistan is necessary if we are to end bloodshed. I know I will be labelled anti-national by news anchors tonight but that doesn’t matter. The people of J&K are suffering. We have to talk because war is not an option,” she later tweeted. PTI