Indian home minister is 'open to talks to resolve Kashmir dispute permanently'

Complex issues can be resolved through dialogue, says Rajnath Singh

Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said he is open to talks with anyone in a bid to resolve the longstanding Kashmir dispute.

“In a healthy democracy, even complex issues can be resolved through dialogue. I am open for talks with anyone as long as no one puts conditions for such negotiations,” Hindustan Times quoted the minister as saying.

In an apparent reference to Pakistan, Singh said he would not blame the Kashmiri youngsters who pelt stones but those who were brainwashing them. “They are from the other side of the border,” he added.

However, the minister also assured that in the future there would be no hurdles or rocks in the path of Kashmiri youngsters.



“Our neighbour is up to no good. They are constantly plotting and planning against us... But, in the last three years, things have changed. India is no longer considered a weak country; we have shown (after Uri) we are capable of crossing the border and killing terrorists.”

Earlier in May, Singh had hinted that the Bharatiya Janata Party -led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government had found a “permanent solution” to the Kashmir issue.



Relations between Pakistan and India have nosedived over a range of issues, including border skirmishes and the death sentence handed down to RAW agent Kulbhushan Jhadav by a military court for espionage and stoking terrorism in Pakistan. The Line of Control in Kashmir has also been witnessing a rise in tensions.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana to attend the 17th meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit, exchanged pleasantries with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at a reception on Thursday night.