December 14, 2015
Saugata Roy speaks seeks clarificarion from the External Affairs Minister on Indo-Pakistan ties
Firstly, the Minister visited Islamabad on 8th and 9th on December. Why did it take her five days after that to come to the Parliament? That too she came to the Lok Sabha after laying a statement in Rajya Sabha at 11 o’clock. Why has the Lok Sabha been kept in the dark on such an important matter?
The minister said there was a talk of the NSAs scheduled in September, 2015, which was cancelled because the Pakistan people met the Hurriyat. What has happened from September to December that the Prime minster, NSA, Foreign Minister again started talking with them. What has happened? Has the border infiltration reduced? Has the Pakistani intelligence activities reduced? Or has the firing on the border reduced? So suddenly from September to December we have a flip-flop and the government starts talking.
The Minister has said that the NSAs discussed everything including terrorism and Jammu & Kashmir. What is there to discuss about Jammu & Kashmir? It is an integral part of India, why are you discussing Jammu & Kashmir? That has been the position of India all along.
I want to know that we dealt with the need of Pakistan to expedite the Mumbai terrorist attacks trial. The country would be interested to know what Pakistan has assured. It was 2008. This is 2015. When will the trial be completed in Pakistan?
Lastly, we also want good relations with Pakistan, but not at the cost of our territorial integrity, not when we are being shelled along the border. Not when the Pakistani intelligence is increasing their activities including the ISI.
