NEW DELHI: Taking exception to the statement of Mr Dilip Padgaonkar, the Chairman of the three-member panel of interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir, expressing the need for involvement of Pakistan, the BJP today asked the Prime Minister’s Office to clarify if internationalising the issue was part of the brief given to the panel.

BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said here Mr Padgaonkar, on reaching Srinagar yesterday, had contended in an informal chat with the media that the panel was there to look for a permanent solution to Kashmir and a permanent solution was not possible without involvement of Pakistan.

"We wonder if this was part of the brief given by the Union government or they were expected to interact with the citizen’s group to understand ground realities in the Valley," the spokesperson asked.

"While the BJP has no objection to the panel interacting with citizens in the Valley, they would be exceeding their limits if they were to internationalise the issue. The comments were a reminder of the Pakistan’s stand on the ‘unfinished agenda’ on Kashmir and the panel seem to be arguing the Yurriyat’s angle."

"It is time for the PMO to clarify to clear the matters and tell the country if they indeed had given the brief to him," she said. (agencies)