BJP cautions government on Siachen pullout

BJP advised the government to adopt a "highly cautious approach" on a possible withdrawal of troops from the troubled Siachen glacier

BJP on Thursday advised the government to adopt a "highly cautious approach" on a possible withdrawal of troops from the troubled Siachen glacier in Jammu and Kashmir.

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"A hurried withdrawal of troops should not be considered by the UPA government as this could lead to an advantage in favour of Pakistan," said BJP president Rajnath Singh in Shimla.

"If the government gives in and Pakistan grabs the advantage, the government should be ready to face the consequences alone."

"Instead, an all-party consensus should be reached at on this issue. Also the Indian Army's three-point strategy on withdrawal of troops should be studied carefully," said Rajnath Singh.

On developments in neighbouring nation Nepal, BJP again cautioned the ruling government.

"The Maoist rebels in Nepal should be taken seriously only if they de-weaponise and wash themselves free of the terrorist tag," he said.

Singh arrived in this Himachal Pradesh capital as part of his cross-country Bharat Suraksha Yatra and addressed a public rally on Thursday.