SIDHU TALKS OF DIALOGUE WITH PAKISTAN

CHANDIGARH : While the Punjab chief minister on Friday called for a befitting reply to Pakistan following the Pulwama terror attack, cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu sounded a discordant note, saying the dialogue with Islamabad should continue.

“Wherever wars are fought and such things (terror attacks) happen, dialogue also continues simultaneously. There is a need to find a permanent solution to (issues between India and Pakistan),” said Sidhu, who in the past too has called for cross-border bonhomie.

“Such people (terrorists) have no religion, no country and no caste,” Sidhu said, justifying his take on the matter regarding dialogue between the two nuclear neighbours.

Condemning the suicide attack that killed 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel on Thursday, Sidhu said the entire nation (Pakistan) could not be blamed for the actions of a handful people.

“This (attack) should be condemned by all. For a handful people, you cannot blame an entire nation. Those behind the attack must be punished,” Sidhu said.