Left blasts Pak for linking Kashmir issue to terror attack

New Delhi, July 13 (UNI) Putting their full weight behind the nation's resolve to fight terrorism, the Left parties today came down heavily on the Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri's reported remarks "linking" the resolution of the Kashmir issue with the terrorist attack in Mumbai and Srinagar.

The leaders of the CPI, CPI(M) and RSP also cricitised the BJP for its criticism of the UPA regime's decision to repeal POTA and its approach to deal with terrorism saying that the opposition party was trying to politicise the issue.

The Left leaders' remarks assume significance in the wake of the Indo-Pak talks being in trouble, with both sides in into accusatory mode. Mr Kasuri linked the terror with a resolution of the Kashmir issue, which a furious New Delhi said was" appalling." Talking to UNI, CPI leader A B Bardhan said," Unfortunately it is not the Pakistan Foreign Minister alone who has linked the attacks with the resolution of the Kashmir issue. The Western media have also tried to drag the peace process between India and Pakistan in the attacks." Mr Bardhan, the veteran Communist and freedom fighter, said actually Pakistan should have fulfilled the promise of wiping out the terrorist infrastructure in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir( POK).

CPI National Secretary Shamim Faizi said it was obvious that those who were operating from Rawalpindi and other places, had moved into the POK. It provides training base not only for terrorists who cross the Indian borders but also those indulging in such activities in the world elsewhere.

"Presence of terrorists in Pakistan has been a threat even to their president and the PM, who have faced murderous attacks," Mr Faizi, the CPI weekly' New Age' editor said.

While terming Pakistan's reaction as" uncalled for and very unfortunate," CPI(M) Deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Mohammad Salim said," Any terrorist attack in any part of the world is condemnable and there is no justification for such action, which claim the lives of innocent people." Mr Salim made it clear in no uncertain terms that" As for as resolution of Kashmir and its linking to terrorist attack- India as a whole is one and speaks in one voice." The CPI(M) leader regretted that "from Pakistan many voices were being heard, which was neither good for facing the challenge posed by terrorists,be it India or Pakistan." " It is also not going to help the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir problem..but the CPI(M) expect that the peace process will continue to break new grounds." On Mr Advani's reported demand for a stringent anti- terrorist law to combat terrorism and shatter the image that a soft stance was being adopted towards militants, the CPI(M) leader it was unfortunate that the BJP leader was trying to score political points.

RSP Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Abani Roy advocated the strengthening of peace process between the two neighbours." Pakistan should not say anything which obstructs this process and more people to people contacts." But the RSP leader minced no words in criticising what he termed as" utter failure" on the part of the intelligence agencies in giving timely information.

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