New Delhi: Expressing support for the visit of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to Islamabad today, the Congress Party, however, demanded that the dialogue be held in a way that a concrete outcome can be expected from it, and also urged Swaraj to raise the issue of 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed and wanted underworld don Dawood Ibrahim who are allegedly taking refuge on Pakistan soil.
“We support dialogue between the two nations but it should be a targeted one where some outcome can be expected. The need of the hour is to address terrorism. Hafiz Saeed and Dawood Ibrahim who are hiding in the Pakistan should be discussed during the talks,” Congress leader P.L. Punia told ANI here.
However, he asserted that after the NDA government came into power, terrorist activities have been on the rise in the nation.
Echoing similar sentiments, Congress leader Pramod Tiwari slammed the ‘u-turn’ made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his stand with Pakistan.
“Congress has always supported talks with Pakistan. But during elections, Modi assured the nation that the hostile neighbour would be taught a lesson and completely ruled out any dialogue with them and look now…they are having ‘secret meetings’ with Pakistan,” Tiwari told ANI.
He added that the Prime Minister must take the opposition and the nation into confidence and discuss what his intentions are on having ties with Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Swaraj left for Islamabad today where she is will meet Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his advisor on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz.
Swaraj is visiting the Pakistan capital to attend the ministerial segment on Afghanistan during the annual Heart of Asia conference on December 9.
ANI