'India seems to have diluted its stand on 26/11'

New Delhi: Against the backdrop of the ongoing talks with Pakistan, BJP on Thursday said India appears to have diluted its earlier demand that the neighbouring country take 'speedy and credible' action against 26/11 culprits and instead reconciled to 'satisfactory closure' of the case.

Speaking at a party rally, senior BJP leader L K Advani alleged that Pakistan has not taken 'a single credible step' to show that it is serious about acting against the masterminds and perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai carnage.

He maintained that all available evidence shows that elements within the Pakistani ruling establishment were involved in planning and executing these terrorist attacks.

"Now, suddenly, the Indian government has changed its stance for the next round of foreign secretary-level talks between the two countries. Rather than remaining firm in its demand for a speedy and credible trial in the Mumbai attacks, all that the government wants from Pakistan is 'satisfactory closure' of the case," Advani said.

He sought to know how the UPA government could talk about 'satisfactory closure' now when Pakistan has not shown any seriousness even in "satisfactory beginning" of the investigation and trial.

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and her Pakistan counterpart Salman Bashir are holding bilateral talks in Islamabad on a host of issues.

Advani charged that Congress has always followed a soft policy towards Pakistan.

"Obviously, the Congress party's ignoble tradition of pusillanimity in dealing with Pakistan, that began with Kashmir in the early years of independence, has continued even today," he said.

The senior BJP leader described as 'disturbing' reports that India had conveyed to Pakistan that it was "overall satisfied" with the neighbouring country and is approaching the present talks with "realistic expectations"- understandably a euphemism for softening its stance towards Pakistan on the Mumbai attacks issue.

"It appears that the UPA government has succumbed to pressure from foreign powers and given up its earlier demand that Pakistan must fully and irreversibly dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism on its soil and, as proof of its sincerity, bring those involved in the terrorist attacks in Mumbai to speedy justice," Advani said.

He insisted that the country should remain vigilant to ensure that government does not enter into "a clandestine deal with Pakistan" on the Kashmir issue.

Kashmir is likely to figure in the bilateral talks on Friday.

Another senior BJP leader V K Malhotra said at a time when the talks are being held with Pakistan, the neighbouring country's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has made a belligerant statement on Kashmir.

"At a time when our Foreign Secretary has gone to Pakistan for talks, their Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has quoted former PM Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, saying Pakistan will fight for a thousand years for Kashmir," Malhotra said.

He said Pakistan maintains this stand despite getting defeated in four wars against India.