29 July : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said while replying to the discussion on Indo-Pak joint statement issue in Lok Sabha that relations with Pakistan can not be fully normalised unless it stops use of its territory for launching terror strikes against India.
Singh made a spirited 45-minute intervention on the debate on the controversial joint statement during which the Opposition attacked him of breaking the national consensus on foreign policy.
Several other Opposition stalwarts attacked the government on the issue.Singh, whose speech was repeatedly cheered by the ruling benches, dismissed as “not correct” an impression that talks with Pakistan would continue irrespective of whether Islamabad takes action against terror or not.
He held his ground on the mention of Balochistan in the joint statement saying India was ready to discuss all issues including Pakistan’s “misgivings” and “false allegations” on the issue as it does not want to hide anything.
Singh also said that Pakistan has admitted that Lashkar-e-Toiba inspired, financed and executed the 26th November Mumbai attack.
Earlier, intervening in the discussion, Singh said that Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani gave no dossier on Balochistan during his meeting with him in Sharm-el Sheikh in Egypt.
Singh met Gilani in Sharm-el Sheikh on the sidelines of the NAM summit.
Initiating the debate, BJP leader Yashwant Sinha accused the Prime Minister of compromising India’s foreign policy with the mention of Balochistan and warned that New Delhi will face pressure from the international community on the issue in future.