He said he made it clear to Saarc nations that terrorism should not be glorified by distinguishing between a “good terrorist” and a “bad terrorist”. “I said there is a need to strongest action not just against the terrorists but also those who support terrorism”.
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Pakistan on Thursday blacked out Rajnath Singh’s address to SAARC home ministers’ in Islamabad.
As the Saarc meeting began at Serena Hotel in Islamabad, the frost permeating bilateral ties was plain for all to see.
When Singh and a grim-looking Khan came face-to-face, their hands barely touched before the Indian minister moved into the hall, witnesses said. “They offered us palak paneer, instead of the paneer they used cheese but it tasted fine”, said a senior official part of the Indian delegation. Singh had taken the call to go, but that the Indian delegation would keenly watch the host’s approach. He also thanked the participants for extending support to India’s proposal for being the host of second Meeting of the High Level Group of Eminent Experts to Strengthen the SAARC Anti-Terrorism Mechanism in Delhi from September 22 to September 23.
As he briefed the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on his visit, opposition lawmakers rallied behind the government and condemned Pakistan over the treatment meted out to Rajnath Singh there. He directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to mobilise the support of worldwide political leadership, the humanitarian organisations and civil society through Pakistan missions overseas in exerting influence over India to allow the Government of Pakistan for arranging the treatment of the victims in IHK on humanitarian grounds.
“We are respecting public sentiments”, one official said. “The time for us to act is now”, Rajnath Singh said in his concluding marks.
He said India’s vision for the region, as outlined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 18th Saarc Summit, rests on the pillars of trade, investments, wide-ranging development cooperation, contacts between our people – and, all through seamless connectivity.
Singh thanked the House for its united stand against terrorism.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government has vowed to bear expenses of treatment of all Kashmiris suffering of eye injuries due to the use of pellet guns in Indian-held Kashmir by Indian forces to overrule voices seeking right to determination and freedom, reported Saturday.
After the meeting was over, Singh said, Pakistan’s Home Minister, who was the host, invited the participants for lunch but left soon thereafter.
“The agenda of the meeting was terrorism, smuggling of narcotic drugs, cyber crime and human trafficking”.
“If the Home Minister did not receive respect and honour due to him in Pakistan during his visit as per protocol, we condemn it”. Some protesters gathered at a distance of about 10 km from the National Assembly, located close to the venue of the Saarc meet.
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“In so far as our neighbour is concerned, Pakistan is yet to ratify the SAARC convention on Mutual Assistance on Criminal Matters”. The ministers were with Sharif for about 20 minutes and exchanged pleasantries.
