NEW DELHI, 11 May: The Congress on Sunday demanded answers from the government on whether it has accepted third party mediation on Kashmir after the US made announcements on behalf of India and Pakistan, and slammed attempt to “internationalise” the issue.
Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters, Congress general secretary Sachin Pilot said the “ceasefire” statement was a surprise to all as this was the first time a third country had made announcements on behalf of India and Pakistan, and questioned the US’ bid to “hyphenate” the two countries.
He said the government must accept the opposition’s demand for another all-party meeting chaired by the prime minister, and a special session of Parliament to discuss these issues in the current circumstances.
Noting that events have changed swiftly in the last 24 hours, he said, “We were all surprised after the announcement of ceasefire was made by the US president through social media.”
“An attempt was made to internationalise the issues between India and Pakistan. This is for the first time this has happened,” he said, asserting that the government must clarify while taking the nation and all parties into confidence.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Saturday announced that India and Pakistan had reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea with immediate effect.
“On what conditions the ceasefire has been declared and what is the guarantee that such things would not be repeated, as there is no credibility left after yesterday’s events (violations)? How can we believe them and what is the guarantee that such developments will not happen again?” Pilot asked.
The Congress leader said one must also pay heed to what US President Donald Trump wrote on his social media posts, where he made statements on Kashmir, on which the government should spell out its side.
“Kashmir is a bilateral issue and the attempt to internationalise it, I feel, is not proper.
“In 1994,” the Congress leader said, “Parliament had passed a unanimous resolution to take back Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).”
“It is time to repeat it,” he said, adding that a message that the entire country is united should go across the entire world.
“A special session be convened and the 1994 resolution be adopted again and it may be made clear that no third party involvement will be accepted.
“It should be stated clearly that it is a bilateral issue and no country, including America, should have a space to intervene in a bilateral issue,” Pilot said, adding that India’s stated foreign policy is very clear where there is no scope for mediation.
Pilot said that the Government of India received unprecedented support from all parties and people in the wake of the Pahalgam attack.
“I appeal that the government should convene an all-party meeting immediately. We are all proud of what our soldiers and our armed forces action what they have done to teach Pakistan a lesson. We are proud of the actions taken by our armed forces,” he said. (PTI)
