'Cancellation of Indo-Pak talks severe blow to peace process'

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir unit of CPI(M) today said the cancellation of Indo-Pak Foreign Secretary-level talks is a "severe blow" to the peace process aimed at normalisation of relations between the neighbouring countries.

"The latest diplomatic break-off is a severe blow to the peace process aimed at normalisation of relations between the two neighbouring countries," CPI(M) State Secretary Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said here.

Tarigami said there was a need to set the dialogue process in motion and any provocation which shelved the ambassadorial contacts could have been raised in the meeting itself.

The CPI(M) leader said it is in the interest of peace and prosperity of the entire region to initiate talks and continue them to seek solutions for the contentious issues.

"The significance of dialogue becomes more important during the adverse situations and it is extremely painful that instead of furthering the dialogue process, channels of communication at diplomatic levels have been stalled," he said.