“We’ve been very clear with the highest levels of the government of Pakistan that they must target all militant groups, and that includes those that target Pakistan’s neighbours, and they must also close all safe havens”, he said. “We must harden our resolve to eradicate this menace and also take serious steps to this end”, he said in his speech. India today sought strengthening of SAARC monitoring desks on terrorism and drugs, underlining that illicit funds generated from narcotics and fake currency networks are being fed into supporting terror activities.
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Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav echoed similar views over India’s strong stand against terrorism. “There are no good terrorists or bad terrorists”, Singh said. There were media reports that Mr Singh’s statement was blacked out in Islamabad.
A lunch organised by Khan was skipped by both the host and Singh. “I did not register any protest there”, Singh said.
NO VIOLATION OF PROTOCOL: MEA Hours after Singh’s briefing in Rajya Sabha, the ministry of external affairs asserted there was no violation of SAARC protocol as far as not allowing telecast of Rajnath’s speech.
“The Home Minister invited us on lunch and he himself left the venue”. I also left then. “I had not gone there for lunch”, he said amid thumping of benches by members. “Yeh padosi hai ki maanta hi nahi hai”, Rajnath said, amid a thunderous applause from members.
He also thanked the lawmakers for their overwhelming support to him regarding his Pakistan visit.
They said Singh informed PM about the speech he made at the conference, his interactions on the sidelines with the leaders, and deliberations during the official sessions. “Never has an Indian home minister been embarrassed in such a manner”, Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi told reporters here.
Singh’s Pakistani counterpart Nisar Ali Khan criticised the former’s comments, according to The Times of India, saying that there was a difference between fighting for terrorism and freedom. Merely strong condemnation of such terrorist attacks is not enough.
Media reports said the two ministers barely shook hands as Khan greeted the Saarc home ministers at the luxurious Serena Hotel in Islamabad.
“Pakistan Prime Minister (Nawaz Sharif) said Kashmir was witnessing a new wave of freedom movement”.
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Responding to questions in Rajya Sabha after making a suo motu statement on yesterday’s conference, the Minister also said that after the meeting was over, Pakistan’s Home Minister, who was the host, invited the participants for lunch but left in a vehicle soon thereafter.
