Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed, the chief of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, also led an anti-India rally in Lahore where he lashed out at the Pakistan government for allowing Rajnath Singh land in Islamabad. “I have no grudges as I wasn’t there to have lunch”.
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“The Home Minister invited us on lunch and he himself left the venue”.
Indian opposition parties also criticised Pakistan for an alleged “blackout” of Singh’s speech on his turn during the conference.
The two men barely touched their hands, not even giving a formal handshake, before Singh moved ahead to enter the meeting hall.
According to the Press Trust of India (PTI), which quoted a government source, it was standard Saarc practice for the host country’s opening statements to be made public and open to the media, while the rest of the proceedings are in camera which allows for a frank discussion of issues.
Asking Pakistan in categorical terms to close all safe havens of terrorists, the USA today told Islamabad not to be selective while dealing with menace and target all militants groups, including those that attack its neighbours.
Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday obliquely asked Pakistan not to glorify terrorists while Islamabad, in a clear reference to Jammu and Kashmir, denounced the use of “excessive force” against civilians.
During his terse speech, on Thursday in Islamabad, Rajnath Singh launched a veiled attack on Pakistan, saying mere condemnation of terrorism and individual acts by terrorists is not enough.
Rajnath Singh minced no words when he said that terrorism should not be eulogized. He said: “If home minister did not receive respect and honour due to him in Pakistan during his visit as per protocol, we condemn it”.
“A terrorist in one nation can not be a martyr or freedom fighter for anyone”, Rajnath Singh said, referring to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s remarks describing the militant commander as a “martyr”.
Singh also touched upon misuse of social and digital media, a modern-day tool used by terror groups.
The US State Department Spokesman said that such meetings like SAARC were important forums to talk about “in a candid way some of the areas of disagreement and some of the areas of concern between the two of them”.
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I also suggested the Pakistani government during the SAARC meet that ban on terror outfits by United Nations must be respected by all as there is no good or bad terrorism, Singh informed the lawmakers. “I think their lack of courtesy was reprehensive”, R K singh said.
