New Delhi: Facing charges of reversing India's position, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday insisted that delinking of dialogue process from Pakistan's action against terrorism was not a dilution of India's stand but strengthens it.
Making a statement in Parliament, he justified the joint statement issued after his meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, saying action on terrorism should not be linked to the composite dialogue process and "therefore cannot await other developments".
Replying to apprehensions voiced by Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley and CPM member Sitaram Yechury, Singh said the delinking "does not mean dilution of our stand. It only strengthens our stand."
He said, "We would like Pakistan not to wait for resumption of composite dialogue, as and when it takes place, but take action against terrorist elements regardless of process that may lead to resumption of dialogue."
He said "meaningful process of engagement" cannot move forward unless and until Pakistan takes measures to control terrorism. "Whether, when and in what form we broaden the dialogue with Pakistan will depend on future developments."
However, BJP was not satisfied with the statement and staged a walkout in the Lok Sabha. Leader of the Opposition L K Advani said delinking of terrorism from composite dialogue has been the "demand" of Pakistan and that "we have conceded" seven months after the Mumbai attacks.