Terror is the principle issue: Advani on Indo-Pak talks

Expressing surprise at the "sudden" move for talks with Pakistan, senior BJP leader LK Advani today said the principle issue is terrorism and talks should not be held unless the terror infrastructure in the neighbouring country is dismantled.

"The principle issue is terrorism. We are not interested in talks for talks sake," Advani told reporters, adding that India should go by the joint statement signed in January 2004 between then prime minister AB Vajpayee and Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf.

"President Musharraf had publicly stated (through the joint statement) that Pakistan will not sponsor terrorism and not
allow Pakistani soil to be used for terrorism against India....(before talks) the entire terror infrastructure (on Pakistani soil) should be dismantled," the former deputy prime minister said.

The main opposition party will raise this issue along with the sensitive issue of price rise during the forthcoming budget session of Parliament, he added.

The BJP leader asked why "all of a sudden" the UPA government had taken this initiative.

"My biggest surprise was that after 26/11 they (government) involved the CIA and the US, gave them all the proof and then did a turn around and said there is no link between the two (talks and terrorism). That terror should stop but even if it doesn't talks should continue," Advani said.

Advani maintained that from the BJP "point of view" the biggest issue between India and Pakistan was terrorism.

He said after 26/11 he had expected the Congress-led government would "have learnt its lessons".

Advani reiterated his stand that the initiative for talks could have come after a "nudge" from the US.

He recalled that US president Barack Obama had stated in an interview during his election campaign that one of the principal matters for him would be solving the Kashmir issue.

"He (Obama) had said that he would try to explain to India that when it is fast moving towards becoming an economic superpower why is it concerned about Kashmir and also try to tell Pakistan that 'see, India has made so much progress and
you are still stuck with Kashmir issue'. Hence, I felt it is their (US) nudge," Advani said.

The BJP Parliamentary party chairman also took a dig at the government for the Sharm-el-Sheikh joint statement.

"After 26/11 the government said no talks (with Pakistan)... but then came the statement in Egypt in which they even named Baluchistan," Advani said.

Underlining his party's commitment to the fight against terrorism, Advani said the Vajpayee-Musharraf Agra summit had failed as the Pakistan President said there was no terrorism and what was going on in Kashmir was a "freedom struggle".