Engagement with Pakistan need not be disrupted: Congress

NEW DELHI: Congress today said engagement with Pakistan need not be disrupted despite the "grave provocation" of the Pathankot attack.

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that it is up to the government to decide what the level, nature and intensity of the engagement should be.

"We have said that despite this grave provocation, engagement with Pakistan need not be disrupted," he told reporters here.

He said that the government has not shared any information with the opposition regarding the Pathankot attack, security situation and the talks with Pakistan.

"And therefore, we call upon the government to ensure that on the basis of the very special domain expertise which they alone have, they must, while continuing with the engagement, ensure that there is no breach of India's security," he said, taking a dig at the BJP government.

He also made it clear that the the party does not stand by the remarks and observations, made by individuals who are not the spokespersons or in the decision making process, that foreign secretary talks should be suspended or cancelled.

He said that the Congress condemns in the strongest and unequivocal terms the slightest lapse in the Indian national security.

"After all, Indian national security is of paramount importance and any inefficiency, looseness or lapse in that regard is inexcusable and therefore we have called on the Prime Minister and the government to ensure highest possible and unbreachable standards on this subject," he said.