Don't take India for granted: Congress to Pakistan

New Delhi: The Congress on Friday talked tough by saying India wanted peace with Pakistan but the neighbouring country should not take it as a sign of weakness.

It also warned that if Pakistan did not stop violating the LoC (Line of Control), India would have to think of taking strong action.

"We don't want to break the process of peace but at the same time, we need to send a strong message to Pakistan that we are quite strong and can face any challenge. They should not feel that we are weak in any respect," Congress spokesperson Sandeep Dikshit said in New Delhi.

It also warned that if Pakistan did not stop violating the LoC (Line of Control), India would have to think of taking strong action.

"If Pakistan did not stop violating the LoC, India will have to think of taking strong action. We are watching the situation whether the Pakistan government is maintaining the status quo of ceasefire on the Line of Control. They should stop violating the ceasefire. A clear picture will emerge in the next three-four days," he said.

The Congress also appreciated the diplomatic and military steps taken by the government to keep the sanctity of the LoC and put pressure on Pakistan in the aftermath of the killing of two soldiers by the Pakistan Army Tuesday.

"We take note of the fact that the government has put diplomatic and other pressures on the government of Pakistan and the steps military is taking to strengthen the patrolling on the Line of Control and the action they have taken. We welcome that," said Dikshit.

"We urge the government to take all necessary diplomatic and other actions that are necessary to keep the sanctity of the Line of Control and the diplomatic steps necessary to continue to put pressure on Pakistan," he said.

The Congress also rubbished remarks made by BJP leader and former external affairs minister Yashwant Sinha that both United Progressive Alliance and National Democratic Alliance had committed a mistake in talking to Pakistan.

"It is possible they are feeling now that they might have erred in taking the bus to Lahore. We want friendly relations with Pakistan and to strengthen the same," said Dikshit referring to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's famous bus ride to Pakistan in 1999.

On the Pakistan government stopping the bus service (Paigam-e-Aman) between the two countries, Dikshit said: "As far as stopping the bus service is concerned, I think the government of Pakistan is not clear within themselves for taking any decision".

The Congress expressed hope that Pakistan would help control the situation.

"We do hope that the Pakistan government will take cognizance of our diplomatic and military protests for violating the ceasefire on the Line of Control and they should try to solve the problem than to aggravate the same," said Dikshit.

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