Pak should shoulder bigger responsibility: Left

New Delhi, July 19: The Left parties today asked Pakistan to shoulder the bigger responsibility of creating a congenial environment for continuing the peace process, saying the government's decision to stall foreign secretary-level talks was a reflection of the people's disgust with Pakistan's failure to rein in terrorists.

The leaders of the CPI, CPI(M), Forward Bloc and RSP said even as there was no alternative to dialogue to resolve the bilateral issues, Pakistan would have to dismantle terrorist infrastrcture, which it had repeatedly promised to do.

The Left leaders' remarks came a day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the India-Pakistan peace process had ''suffered'' in the wake of the Mumbai blasts and making it clear that the time had come for India to ''reflect'' on its relations with Pakistan.

Talking to UNI, CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan said, ''India and Pakistan have to resume the peace process as in the new world environment there is no alternative to dialogue between the nations to resolve the bilateral issues.'' Mr Bardhan, the veteran Communist leader and freedom fighter, said while the terrorist infrastucture in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) had to be dismantled, the political forces in India had to curb ''jingoism and war mongering''.

CPI (M) Deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, Mohammad Salim, said,''The dialogue must continue at any cost. It should not be stopped. We may have so many other instruments but any issue of conflict can not be resolved without dialogue.'' Relations between India and Pakistan must improve through dialogue, the senior CPI(M) leader said adding Pakistan would have to stop ongoing terrorist activities on its soil to create a congenial atmosphere for resumption of peace process.

CPI National Secretary Shamim Faizi said cross-border terrorism had always been a ''big hindrance'' in the progress of peace process.

The over-a-half century's sorry relationship required mass approval for any change, he added.

''Incidents like the Mumbai serial blasts shook the faith of people regarding sincere efforts of the Pakistan administration to dismantle terrorist infrastucture on their soil,'' Mr Faizi said.

On Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's observation that stalling talks amounted to playing into the hands of terrorists, Mr Faizi asked him not to indulge in rhetoric and instead should take concrete measures to curb terrorism.

''Gen Musharraf should realise that it is not only a threat to India but also to himself as three attempts have already been made on his life. The Pakistan President has to foil the terrorist gameplan and should take immediate steps to put an end to the menace,'' Mr Faizi added.

Forward Bloc Secretary G Devarajan said Pakistan should discontinue its ''duplicity'' on the diplomatic front. ''On the one side it carries on diplomatic initiatives, on the other it abets terrorism. This can not go on.'' Mr Devarajan said it was true dialogue was the only lasting solution, but India could not ignore the ground reality of Pakistan aiding terrorists on its soil.

RSP Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Abani Roy said India could not accept any pre-condition for resumption of the peace process.

''Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri's reaction linking the Mumbai serial blasts with Kashmir resolution and now Gen Musharraf's statement that stalling foreign secretary-level talks amounted to playing into the hands of terrorists are not acceptable.''

UNI

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