Benazir's death set back to Indo-Pak peace process: Karat

Chandigarh, Dec 28 (UNI) CPM general secretary Parkash Karat today said that the assassination of Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPS) chairperson Benazir Bhutto would effect the ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan.

" A stable and democratically elected government in Pakistan would have been more ideal for continuing the peace dialogue", Mr Karat said while talking to mediapersons after addressing the inagural session of the 19th Punjab State CPM Conference here.

Describing the incident as tragic, Mr Karat said that fundamentalist forces like the Taliban and Al Qaeda, who did not want the return of democracy were behind this. He sought to point out that these were the same forces which were at one time backed and promoted by the United States (US), which has always influenced the running of the government in Pakistan.

" The people of Pakistan have made up their mind for the restoration of democracy and we extend our support to them", he added.

UNI