Monday, September 18 2006 11:55 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Left parties and Congress today (Sept 18, 2006) welcomed the decision to resume India-Pakistan composite dialogue but main opposition BJP counselled 'double caution and dubbed the agreement on joint anti-terror mechanism as a 'fig leaf' for concessions given to Islamabad.

"The main outcome of the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf at the Havana NAM Summit was the decision to resume the composite dialogue between the two countries. This is a welcome and necessary step," the CPI-M Politburo said in a statement here.

It said India however expected Pakistan to act fully in implementing the agreement and it must be fully conscious that this is a necessary component to resume advanced dialogue in a reference to the decision to set up a joint anti-terrorism institutional mechanism.

"The CPI-M is of the firm opinion that issues such as Siachen and Sir Creek can be resolved if sincere efforts are made by both sides. The issue of Jammu and Kashmir must also be addressed at the political level..." it said.

CPI National Secretary D Raja hailed the agreement saying there was no alternative to a dialogue which would help establish permanent peace between the two countries.

The Congress hoped it would accelerate the peace process and lead to a concrete solution in the public interest "while keeping India's guard at an appropriate level of alertness".

"India has sent out a clear, unequivocal and unambiguous message to the world in general and to Pakistan in particular that there can be no compromise or half way house on terror," Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said in a statement.