Opposition in India not hijacking dialogue with Pak: Pranab

Gilani had yesterday made this point while responding to a question on Indo-Pak ties in the aftermath of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

The Pakistani premier noted that he had held several meetings with his Indian counterpart,including one in Sharm el-Sheikh where they “made a commitment that both countries cannot be held hostage to the Mumbai incident alone”.

“However,when Manmohan Singh went back to India,there was pressure on him in Parliament as well as public pressure and so no progress could be made,” Gilani said.

Mukherjee said he was the foreign minister at that time and had suggested after 26/11 terror attacks that the Pakistan government must ensure that non-state actors did not use its territory for terrorist activities against India.

“Therefore (there is) no question of hijacking (the talks by the Opposition),” he said.

“Informal talks are taking place. Prime Minister has discussed with the Prime Minister of Pakistan on the margins of the non-aligned summit. Foreign ministers had several rounds of meetings. Our foreign minister also visited Pakistan,” Mukherjee said.