No purpose of holding talks sans tangible deliverables: Cong

New Delhi, Aug 22: Alleging lack of sincerity on part of Pakistan, Congress today said there is "no purpose" of going ahead with the NSA-level talks unless there are tangible deliverables.

"We would advise the government... unless there are firm assurances of tangible deliverables and outcome, there is no purpose" in going ahead with the talks, senior party spokesman Anand Sharma told reporters.

With Pakistan shifting focus from terror to Kashmir through Hurriyat Conference, Sharma charged Pakistan with using the build up to NSA level talks for propaganda purposes against India's interests.

Noting that "extraneous" issues are being used to throw spanner in the process of talks, he said that the exercise is being exploited by those who influence border issues in Pakistan against India. He warned the government against giving "a larger than life profile to Hurriyat", which he insisted has "no locus standi".

"It (Hurriyat) does not represent people of J&K and is unrepresentative and unrepresentable," he said. Sharma said that India should have have seen through the Pakistani designs and wondered as to why New Delhi announced the dates of talks in a one way gesture, without Islamabad confirming it.

"We are concerned and we are definitely saddened and embarrassed by these developments.... We request the Government that till the time you are fully satisfied with what will be the outcome of talks, till then you leave this process," he said.

Targeting the Narendra Modi dispensation, he remarked diplomacy and statecraft are delicate issues. "This government lacks both in dealing with Pakistan".

PTI