The government is expected to address all Opposition parties on Friday over the recent terrorist attack on Amarnath yatra pilgrims as well as the military stand-off with China.

The meeting will be addressed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. The decision to address an all-party meeting was taken after the nation was hounded on both sides, by Pakistan and China.

All parties including the Congress, Left, Janata Dal (United) and Trinamool Congress have been invited, said sources.

However, the meeting was not confirmed either by the Ministry of Home Affairs or by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay said the meeting could “perhaps” take place, although he refused to give details on the agenda.

Bilateral framework On the issue of China offering to mediate a dialogue between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, Baglay said the government is open to a dialogue but within the bilateral framework, thereby rejecting any offer of third party mediation.

According to sources, the government has come under fire from the Opposition, with the parties seeking a clear stand on how it plans to address escalating tension with its two key neighbours.

Matters took an ugly when a bus carrying Amarnath yatra pilgrims came under attack from terrorists, allegedly from the Lashkar-e-Tayyeba outfit, late Monday evening, claiming seven lives. The perpetrators are yet to be nabbed.

Meanwhile, tension with China is increasing by the day, with almost a month-long military stand-off. China has made it clear that it will not sit for a dialogue to diffuse the situation unless the Indian Army backs off.

The tension began after a construction party of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) started building a road near Doklam plateau area of Bhutan, which is strategically a threat for India because it enjoys an advantageous position in that region.

India has said that the matter is of “serious concern” because once the road is built, it will give China access to the sensitive North-East region.

Referring to the meeting meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Hamburg on the sidelines of the G20 meeting earlier this month, MEA’s Baglay said: “As far as Doklam is concerned, diplomatic channels will continue to be used.”

China said last week that India must pull back its troops “to avoid there being an even more serious situation creating even more serious consequences”.

Last week, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi met the Chinese and Bhutanese Ambassadors to “understand the situation”.

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