With Modi building pressure, Pak may come on board for talks: PDP

Srinagar: People Democratic Party (PDP) leader Muzaffar Baig on Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started building pressure on Pakistan at international platforms, and hoped that Islamabad might also come on board for talks.

Baig said though the government had formed a committee for commencing dialogue with the Hurriyat, Pakistan holds the key to talks between them.

"Prime Minister Modi has started building pressure on Pakistan on international platforms, so I believe that Islamabad might also come on board for a dialogue. Moreover, I have a belief that it might take five, 10 or even 20 years, but things will get sorted out between India and Pakistan," said Baig.

"The all-party delegation had a mix bag. One of the stakeholders of the all-party delegation is talking about the Hurriyat. A committee is being formed by the government that will try to hold dialogues with the Hurriyat leaders, and will explain them that gone are the days when borders used to change and wars used to take place. But I believe that the key to these talks lie with Pakistan, so it is to be seen whether Pakistan will allow this conversation to happen or not," he added.

The all-party delegation that visited violence-hit Jammu and Kashmir earlier this week, issued a joint statement, urging the Central and State governments to take steps for a dialogue with "all stakeholders." It, however, asserted National sovereignty would not be compromised.

 

Prime Minister Modi's in his Independence Day speech brought back the focus on Balochistan and attacked Pakistan for suppressing human rights and backing terrorism.