Karan Singh voices concern over 'war-like rhetoric' from Pakistan, India

NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader Karan Singh today expressed serious concern over "war-like rhetoric" from civil and military brass both in Pakistan and India as he favoured talks between the two countries on all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir.

Singh said any war, howsoever short, would have "disastrous consequences" and wondered why India was always in the "defensive" while deliberating on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistan.

"In the last few days, the war-like rhetoric on both sides from highly placed civil and military officials has assumed alarming proportions. Pakistan has been brandishing the 'nuclear deterrent', while on our side no less a person than the Army chief has spoken of 'short wars'.

"As one who has been witness to all the Indo-Pak conflicts from 1947 onwards, I must sound a note of caution," he said in a statement.

Singh, whose father Maharaja Hari Singh had agreed to accede to India by signing the Instrument of Accession in October 1947, said India should hold talks with Pakistan on all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir.

"In my personal opinion, while fully safeguarding national security, I do not see why we should not talk with Pakistan on all outstanding issues including Jammu and Kashmir.

"They are in adverse possession of half of my father's former State, and I fail to understand why we are always on the defensive in discussing this. But for this to happen the sanctity of the LoC and the international border needs to be re-established and peace restored," he said.