Spell out Pakistan policy: Congress tells Modi

The Congress on Monday asked the NDA government to spell out its Pakistan policy after reports from Islamabad suggested that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has signalled his desire to restart the dialogue process with the testy neighbour.

“The Prime Minister should clarify his government's policy towards Pakistan because it changes like seasons,” Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill told reporters here.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had claimed that Modi, in a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan, had stated his desire to re-start talks between the two countries.

Indian officials clarified that Modi had merely sent a congratulatory letter to Khan after he assumed office on Saturday.

“When it comes to Pakistan, all political parties should speak in one voice. But the problem with the BJP is that its spokespersons talk of teaching Pakistan a lesson, the Prime Minister attends weddings there and now letters are being written,” Shergill said.

“The Prime Minister's circular and confused Pakistan policy is confusing the nation,” the Congress said.

Sidhu embrace

The Congress attack on the Modi government comes amid internal rumblings in the party over Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu embracing Pakistan Army chief Qamar Bajwa in Islamabad on Saturday. Sidhu had attended the swearing-in of Imran Khan as Pakistan Prime Minister.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh was critical of Sidhu embracing the Pakistani General, thus revealing the rift within the state unit of the party.

The AICC, however, steered clear of the row with Shergill taking the stance that there was no need to deliberate on the issue after the Chief Minister's clarification that Sidhu had visited Pakistan in his personal capacity as a former cricketer and a friend.

“Sidhu had visited Pakistan in his personal capacity and not as a representative of the Congress or the Punjab government,” the Congress said.