Local media reports said that it seemed Khan made a decision to ignore the written notes in order to respond to the speech of home minister Rajnath Singh, who without naming Pakistan lambasted it for supporting terrorism. “One country’s terrorist can not be a martyr or freedom fighter for anyone”, Rajnath Singh said.
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The minister said the Indian media accompanying him was not allowed in when he was making the speech on terrorism at the conference. Later today India described the reports of a “blackout” of the home minister’s statement during the SAARC ministerial meeting as “misleading”.
Nisar Ali Khan, on the final day of Saarc conference on Thursday, urged India to halt human rights violation and civilian killings in Kashmir, insisting that fight for freedom can not be termed as terrorism by any means. “There should be strongest of action not only against terrorists but also against organisations, individuals and nations who support terror”, he added.
Replying to a question about the Pentagon’s decision to withhold $300 million of defence aid to Pakistan over its alleged reluctance to act against the Haqqani network, Toner said that unlike the Pentagon, the State Department had continued its assistance and some of that included security assistance. Only Pakistan state PTV was allowed to cover introductory speeches of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan. However, the Pakistani Interior Minister left the venue immediately after the meeting got over despite being the host of the lunch. “I also left. I have no complaints or grudges as I had not gone there to have lunch”, Singh said.
The Home Minister had also yesterday briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about his visit to Pakistan. After his comment, Nisar reminded Rajnath of the atrocities committed by Indian Army on Kashmiris and called that as terrorism.
Singh headed to the Islamabad airport shortly after his speech.
Meanwhile, Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin and leaders of other terrorists groups wanted by the Indian agencies condemned Singh’s visit to Pakistan. “I won’t comment if Pakistan was right or wrong in not allowing the coverage”, he said.
No bilateral meeting between the Indian minister and his Pakistani counterpart took place on the sidelines of the SAARC ministerial conference that ended on Thursday, said Dawn online. He said he needed to speak to the External Affairs Ministry over it.
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In a strong message, the USA has asked Pakistan to act against all the terror groups in the country, especially those targeting its neighbours and not just the ones that pose a threat to it.
