'Indo-Pak statement unprecedented capitulation'

New Delhi, Sept 19: The BJP today termed the India-Pakistan joint statement, that was issued on the sidelines of the 14th Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Havana on September 16, as an ''unprecedented capitulation'' by India saying it had wiped out all that was achieved in the war against terror through years of hard work in just one stroke.

Senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said the party ''totally disagreed'' with the latest approach of the Government regarding the peace process as cross-border terrorism continued to emanate from the Pakistani side.

Mr Sinha told reporters that the joint press statement issued in January 2004, when the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vaypayee visited Islamabad, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf had assured the visiting dignitary that he will not permit any territory under Pakistan control to be used to support terrorism in any manner.

''However, after the Congress-led UPA came to power in May 2004, instead of carrying forward the gains, the government adopted a soft approach towards cross-border terrorism promoted by Pakistan,'' Mr Sinha added.

He said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh instead issued a joint statement in April last year which said that India and Pakistan will not allow terrorism to impede the peace process.

''This offered a carte blanche to terrorists in Pakistan to carry on their activities merrily,'' he added.

Mr Sinha also criticised the government's decision to resume secretary-level talks at the earliest that had been called off after Mumbai and Malegoan blasts.

''We completely disagree with this decision. The Prime Minister is happy that Gen Musharraf promised to work together in future without going into the past. This is naivete at its worst,'' he added.

Mr Sinha was talking to reporters after a meeting of senior BJP leaders at NDA chairman Atal Bihari Vajpayee's residence. It was also attended by Mr L K Advani, Jaswant Singh and Arun Shourie.

Mr Sinha said the joint mechanism to resolve all issues was bound to fail even before it takes off. He said India had shared evidences indicating Pakistani involvement in terrorist acts and also that the government of the neighbouring country provides infrastructure to perpetrators of terrorism.

He said focussing on the issues of Jammu and Kashmir, Siachen and Sir Creek in the statement at Havana was uncalled for as they are covered under composite dialogue process. ''Siachen issue must be tackled with great caution and the concerns of the Army taken fully into account,'' he added.

Mr Sinha said cross-border terrorism and the dialogues process cannot go silmultaneously and the resumption of Foreign Secretary-level talks in view of increased violence is not acceptable to the BJP.

The BJP leader expressed surprise that Dr Singh had accepted Gen Musharraf's view that Pakistan too was a victim of terror. ''The perpetrators of cross-border terrorism has been coopted through this Joint Statement as partner in the fight against terror. The distinction between the aggressor and the victim of aggression have been done away with,'' he added.

He alleged that Pakistan were actively sensing an ''excellent opportunity'' to raise non-issues like India's involvement in Baluchistan.

UNI