Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Tuesday said that the Indian government is ready to talk about business, tourism and good relations with Pakistan, if the country stops claiming its stake on Kashmir.
"There is no question of giving Kashmir to Pakistan. They cannot get even an inch of Kashmir. But if Pakistan says that they want to build good relations with India and also stake their claim on Kashmir, then it does not hold any meaning. It conveys that Pakistan's wish to have good relations with India is fake. Relations between the countries can only improve if Pakistan stops discussing about Kashmir. Kashmir is a part of India and it's not the topic of discussion," he said. .
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Ram Gopal Yadav said that it was difficult to trust Pakistan but encouraged talks with the country by saying that solutions to major problems have always come out through talks.
"Pakistan has always gone against its own statements so they can never be trusted. As far as talks are concerned, a solution is always found by holding talks. Whatever the current circumstances are, it's a different matter but whenever there have been any fights or conflicts in the world, talks have always been held afterwards and solutions to the major problems have always come out by holding talks," he said.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, DP Tripathi said that peaceful talks can only be held between India and Pakistan once the ongoing ceasefire violations and killing of soldiers is stopped.
"Peaceful discussions and talks can be held on many issues but what Nawaz Sharif is saying he should bring it into action also. The Pakistani army is killing our soldiers, continuous ceasefire violations are going on at the Line of Control (LoC), and many soldiers have become martyrs. So all these things should be stopped first then only talks can be held between the two countries in a peaceful environment," Tripathi said.
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday, in statement, said that the leadership of both countries must take responsibility to resolve the Kashmir issue, and added that he has constantly maintained that it is pivotal that good relations are maintained with India.
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According to Geo TV reports, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that Kashmir is a national issue and a solution on it needs to be arrived upon by both India and Pakistan.
"Kashmir is a national issue. Wars of the past have ruined our leadership and it is the responsibility of the leadership of both Pakistan and India. Stability and prosperity of a nation is linked to good relations with its neighbours," Sharif said.
"I have always stressed the importance of good relations with India," Sharif added.
The tension between India and Pakistan has been high in recent weeks, after the Pakistani Army ambushed six Indian soldiers on August 6 in Poonch District of Jammu and Kashmir.
Additionally, there have been multiple ceasefire by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) that have strained relations between the two countries.
