Pakistan using Hurriyat to sabotage NSA talks: Congress

New Delhi, Aug 22: The Congress on Saturday alleged that Pakistan was using Hurriyat to sabotage the national security adviser-level talks with India.

"It is very clear. Pakistan diverted attention from the two major terrorist attacks. Pakistan and its establishment is answerable because the attacks were launched from their territory," Congress leader Anand Sharma said.

"The terrorists came from there, that is a fact and second after diversion to misuse the offer of talks for propaganda purposes at India's cost.

"Hurriyat is their people, supplicants, they are calling their own agents for talks. By doing this Kashmir has been highlighted in the entire world. Just before the UN General Assembly session.

"They took 22 days to accept invitation. They didn't accept it directly but agreed only after (Pakistan national security advisor Sartaj Aziz's meeting the Iran foreign minister after that he announced that he'll go for NSA talks with India.

"They used Hurriyat to sabotage talks, win propaganda and divert attention," said Sharma.

"Immediately after Ufa talks between the prime ministers of both the countries, they started firing, giving message to Nawaz Sharif and to us that the agreement doesn't have their consent," he added.

On the issue whether there should be NSA talks, he said: "First there was no basis. The basis was the Ufa statement. Pakistan did not appear to be at all interested in the talks when they took weeks before they accepted the date.

"We have rightly demanded what was the basis, what were the assurances given. And what is the expected outcome and the deliverables. You cannot have talks without deliverables. There has to be a way forward only through meaningful talks."

"Without giving too much importance or weightage to this contentious issue that has come in which Pakistan has used... J&K and Ladakh are integral part of India which is non-negotiable. Should not give larger than life profile to Hurriyat conference."

He further added: "For NSA level talks, the trial of the Mumbai terror accused should be brought to satisfactory conclusion. Parliament and the country should have been informed about the guarantees given to our PM in Ufa by Pakistan PM."

"Both parliament and the people of India continue to be kept in dark as to what was the basis of the understanding between the two prime ministers to initiate the process of talks at the NSA-level. Why India has shown its eagerness to host the talks, propose the dates, when Pakistan took weeks even to give an indication of its acceptance.

"The offer of NSA-level talks is old one and the UPA government had not agreed making it clear that unless and until the trial of the Mumbai terror attack accused is brought to a satisfactory conclusion India cannot accept talks at the level of the NSA.

"The government should only proceed in this backdrop if there are going to be deliverables. Our advice to the government is to be cautious and by default do not help the Pakistan propaganda and in future ensure that what is agreed is endorsed by the establishment," he added.

IANS