India-Pak talks: Hope BJP has done its homework, says Tharoor

Reminding the BJP that it consistently opposed talks with Pakistan during the UPA regime, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said he hoped the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA Government has done its homework with regard to the issue.

“It surprised many of us because the government of Mr. Modi and the BJP party have consistently opposed talks with Pakistan and attacked the UPA whenever we tried to initiate them. Having said that, I hope they have done their homework and they have gone without any illusions and with their eyes open,” said Tharoor.

“Let’s face it, our experience has not been a good experience. Let’s hope that every time there is a breakthrough, there shouldn’t be another tragedy for the Indian people to follow through,” he added.

India and Pakistan yesterday decided to revive the stalled dialogue process and find ways to expedite trial of the Mumbai attack case as Prime Minister Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif agreed to cooperate to eliminate terrorism from South Asia.

The two leaders, who met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Ufa, Russia, discussed the entire gamut of issues between both the sides.

Foreign Secretaries S Jaishankar and Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, who held a joint press meet after the meeting, said both countries have condemned terrorism in all forms and decided to take steps to deal with the menace.

They said that the meeting between the two Prime Ministers was cordial, adding that both sides have agreed to hold collective responsibility to ensure peace and development and to do so they are prepared to discuss all outstanding issues.

The two Asian neighbours also decided to release the fishermen in each other’s custody within 15 days.