Violence at LoC must stop for Indo-Pak talks to restart: BJP

New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policy regarding Pakistan is being hampered by the violence taking place at the Line of Control (LoC), adding that the government's policy regarding the Islamic Republic has remained consistent since it entered office last May.

"The Prime Minister is reiterating his policy. If one looks into his stand over the past ten months there is a sense of stability in the Government's approach towards Pakistan. The Prime Minister has said today that we would want to engage with Pakistan and that there has to be reciprocation from Pakistan as well," BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao told a news agency.

"Pakistan is responsible for all the attacks at the LoC. When things become normal, automatically bilateral dialogue will continue," he added.

Meanwhile, Congress leader PC Chacko said the government has been unable to convey its policy to Pakistan.

"We have always been open to talk with Pakistan. But the violence is still continuing, hence there cannot be talks with Pakistan," he said.

"India started high level talks, but these talks were stopped midway. These Foreign Secretary level talks should have concluded by now and we should have conveyed what we feel to them. Whatever the Prime Minister may be saying, is not going to help India's interests," he added.

Earlier, Prime Minister Modi, in an interview with a national daily, had said that India will only conduct bilateral talks with Pakistan in an environment free of terrorism and violence.