NSA talks axing: Disappointing, don't repeat mistakes, say Indian leaders

New Delhi There were mixed reactions from Indian political leaders on Sunday to Pakistans decision to call off the NSAlevel talks with some calling it unfortunate and disappointing while some warning against similar tactics in any future engagementHome Minister Rajnath Singh termed as unfortunate Pakistans decision to call off the NSAlevel talks and asked why the country had not raised the Kashmir issue at Ufa if it was so keen to do so during the scheduled talks here while the Congress accused the government of falling prey to Pakistani designsSpeaking to reporters in Lucknow he said India wanted the talks and it is unfortunate that Pakistan called them offRajnath Singh File picStressing Kashmir was never on the agenda of the proposed meeting between National Security Advisers Sartaj Aziz of Pakistan and Ajit Doval of India he said if Pakistan was so keen on raising the Kashmir issue why didnt it do so at Ufa where the decision on the NSAlevel talks was takenThey should have fixed the agenda beforehand Kashmir was never on the talks agenda he said adding that the possibility of any future dialogue will depend on PakistanJammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed expressed disappointment over cancellation of the talks but hoped the two neighbours will reengage soon in a meaningful dialogue while his predecessor Farooq Abdullah told media persons in Jammu that the two countries can have talks in a neutral venueOn the other hand Bharatiya Janata Party leader Yashwant Sinha said India should not engage with Pakistan till it was absolutely certain about the outcomeSinha a former external affairs minister told news channel CNNIBN that not talking to Pakistan will not lead to warMeanwhile Janata DalUnited president Sharad Yadav told reporters in Patna that cancellation of the NSAlevel talks reflected failure of our foreign policy while Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi alleged that the governments approach lacked focus and provided Pakistan an opportunity to wriggle out of discussing the serious issue of terrorismIt is unfortunate that the government due to its less preparation and its not taking concrete steps allowed Pakistan to act on its designs and fell prey It the government should have been alert They should have had prior information and should have prepared a plan so that Pakistan does not succeed Singhvi saidHe also slammed Pakistan and said the country wants to run away from all issues relating to terrorism and does not want exchange of information particularly on those serious matters on which it can be corneredThe August 2324 NSA talks between India and Pakistan were finally called off on Saturday with both sides sticking to their positions India on keeping only terrorism on the agenda and no meeting with Kashmir separatist leaders and Pakistan pressing for discussiong Kashmir too and insisting on meeting the leadersIn a late night statement on Saturday the Pakistan Foreign Office said it has come to the conclusion that the NSA talks would not serve any purpose if conducted on the basis of the two conditions laid down by IndiaThe Pakistan High Commission had invited Hurriyat leaders for a reception on August 23 and Aziz had planned to separately meet Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani