Indo-Pak stand on Kashmir must not derail talks: D Raja

Communist Party of India leader D Raja called on the Indian Government to communicate with Pakistan, and not allow dialogue to become a casualty because of their differently stated positions on Kashmir.

New Delhi: Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D Raja on Friday called on the Indian Government to communicate with Pakistan, and not allow dialogue to become a casualty because of their differently stated positions on Kashmir. "What Pakistan says about Kashmir, it is known to everybody. It is the position of Pakistan. It doesn`t mean India should agree with Pakistan. That is why, there is need to carry forward the composite dialogue process that has begun. Whatever may be the political changes in both countries, both countries must engage themselves in a meaningful dialogue. Dialogue is the only alternative," Raja told a news agency.

Cornering India ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s first visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan had on Thursday harped on Kashmir being a "disputed territory" which has been rejected by India. Pakistan `s Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam had said during a briefing: "We do not accept the so-called accession of the state of Jammu and Kashmir to India. Kashmir is not an integral part of India. Our position is that Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory." Her remarks came on the eve of Modi`s one-day visit to Jammu and Srinagar. "People of the state of Jammu and Kashmir have yet to exercise their right to self determination which has been assured to them by almost 20 resolutions of the United Nations Security Council," Aslam said in response to a question on Modi`s visit to the state.