Congress urges PM Modi to chair all-party meet on India-Pakistan situation

NEW DELHI: On Sunday, Congress called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the recent ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan. Additionally, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi and Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to the Prime Minister, urging a special session of Parliament to deliberate on the Pahalgam attack, Operation Sindoor, and the US-announced ceasefire."It is crucial for the people and their representatives to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor and today's ceasefire, first announced by US President Trump," said Rahul Gandhi in his letter."This will also be an opportunity to demonstrate our collective resolve to meet the challenges ahead."Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also posed several questions to the government, including whether New Delhi has opened the doors to third party intervention between India and Pakistan.“Has New Delhi opened the doors to third-party mediation? Have diplomatic channels with Pakistan been reopened?” he asked in a post on X.His remarks came a day after India and Pakistan announced an immediate halt to all military actions—by land, air, and sea—following four days of intense cross-border missile and drone strikes.The ceasefire understanding was reportedly brokered with announcements first emerging from Washington DC, followed by confirmations from both New Delhi and Islamabad.Referring to a statement by US secretary of state Marco Rubio, who mentioned a "neutral site" for dialogue between the two countries, Ramesh asked whether this signaled a departure from the principles of the Simla Agreement, which firmly opposes third-party intervention in India-Pakistan matters."Have we abandoned the Simla Agreement? Have we opened the doors to third-party mediation?" he asked. "The Indian National Congress would like to ask if diplomatic channels between India and Pakistan are being reopened? What commitments have we sought and got?" Ramesh cited reported remarks by two former army chiefs, V P Malik and Manoj Narwane, on the understanding reached between India and Pakistan and said that the situation demands for a response from the Prime Minister himself."Finally, the Indian National Congress believes it is but natural for the country to recall Indira Gandhi for her extraordinarily courageous and resolute leadership in 1971," Ramesh said.He also referenced a $5.8 billion loan to India from IMF in November, 1981 to which the US had strong objections. He added that however, Indira Gandhi was able to persuade the IMF for the loan."On Feb 29, 1984, when Pranab Mukherjee presented the Budget she had got him to announce that India had concluded the IMF programme successfully and that it was NOT drawing about $1.3 billion of the amount approved. This is perhaps unique in the annals of IMF's history," Ramesh added.