Kolkata: Former External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha today (Sep 6, 2004) said that India should forcefully raise the issue of cross-border terrorism and infiltration with Pakistan in every dialogue, asserting that there was a spurt in it in recent months.

''It is a matter of regret that the cross-border terrorism and infiltration which had come down, had increased after May. The Army has also said that it has doubled. India should raise this issues with Pakistan in every dialogue,'' Sinha said while speaking on the issue ''India and our neighbouring countries'' in a seminar in Kolkata.

Saying that it was a pre-condition that Pakistan would not encourage cross-border terrorism and infiltration, Sinha pointed out that Pakistan might try to focus on Jammu and Kashmir during its dialogue with India, but India should keep on harping on these issues.

The former External Affairs minister also said that parleys on Jammu and Kashmir should include PoK (Pakistan occupied Kashmir) and Akshai Chin, which has been acceded to China by Pakistan.

He said that the current Indo-Pak composite dialogue was part of the process initiated by the previous NDA (National Democratic Alliance) Government when it was decided that the Foreign Ministers of both the countries would meet sometime in August this year.

Sinha said that it has to be seen whether something new emerged after the talks Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was likely to have with Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf during his visit to USA for addressing the General Assembly of the United Nations.