BJP says rethink talks with Pak, CPM calls it ‘disturbing’

Rejecting Union Home Minister P Chidamabaram’s claim that the Pune blast was not an intelligence failure, the BJP on Sunday asked the government not to go ahead with “misconceived and adventurist steps” like resuming dialogue with Pakistan and rehabilitating militants returning from PoK.

Rejecting Union Home Minister P Chidamabaram’s claim that the Pune blast was not an intelligence failure, the BJP on Sunday asked the government not to go ahead with “misconceived and adventurist steps” like resuming dialogue with Pakistan and rehabilitating militants returning from PoK.

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The BJP core group, which held a meeting to discuss the blast, said the government must introspect whether intelligence collection and security responses are still inadequate.

“The government in the past few days has announced some misconceived and adventurist steps... The BJP urges the government to reconsider both these steps — allowing persons from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to return and resuming dialogue with Pakistan,” Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said.

“Terror and talks cannot co-exist. When terror threatens India, 'not talking' is a legitimate diplomatic option,” Jaitley said.

The CPI(M) described the attack as "disturbing", saying it came despite prior warnings of a possible terror strike. "Media reports on prior warnings concerning a possible terror attack in Pune are indeed disturbing as these attacks have taken place despite this. It is imperative that such lapses be identified and rectified urgently.”

Pakistan condemns Pune blast

Pakistan on condemned the terror attack in Pune in which nine people were killed and said it was committed to resuming the stalled peace talks with India.

“I condemn the incident in Pune,” Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said.

“We condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. We want the region to be free from this menace. We want to have good relations with India. We want talks to be meaningful,” Gilani was quoted as saying by the Dawn.

The blast in Pune occurred a day after India and Pakistan agreed to resume their peace talks stalled since 26/11.