Congress on Friday accused the Modi government of "messing up" while dealing with Pakistan on the Pathankot attack probe and playing into its hands on the issue even as BJP countered the charge, saying India's stand on all bilateral issues and talks is clear and has been appreciated.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said, "I think the government has messed it up completely. There cannot be a bigger mess-up. Pakistanis are to blame...there is no doubt, but the Indian government, unfortunately, is playing into their hands."
Pakistan will continue to be a "rogue state and I don't think we can expect anything better from it", he said.
Singhvi said India "legitimised" Pakistan by inviting its team to Pathankot as such an invitation had never been given in the last 70 years.
"Having legitimised them, we got a slap on our face by them going back, debunking us, decrying us, criticising us. We have equated terror perpetrators with victims.
"It is adding insult to injury...They and not us are the ones who suspended the peace process after doing nothing about Pathankot," he said.
Countering the charges, BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said, "After the Pathankot terror attack, it was the Pakistan Prime Minister who said action is being taken and it is in that context that the JIT came here and now Indian team is supposed to go there on a reciprocal basis."
He said that "now it is upto Pakistan to show how serious it is about its commitment and combating terrorism" and added the world is concerned over what is happening with regard to terrorism and in Pakistan.