Traditionally tense relations between the two nuclear neighbours have been strained further in recent weeks by a flare-up in protests against Indian rule in Occupied Kashmir, in which dozens of innocent people have been killed and thousands injured.
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In his speech at the SAARC meeting, Singh had 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.
“One country’s terrorist can not be a martyr or freedom fighter for anyone”. Terrorist organisation Hizbul Mujahideen’s leader, Syed Salahuddin had also “warned” the Pakistan government against welcoming Singh. Terming attempts to make distinction between “good” terrorists and “bad” terrorists as misleading, Singh said “the will and mandate of global community against proscribed and wanted terrorists and their organisations must be respected and implemented”.
“No type of terrorism or support to it can be justified on any grounds whatsoever”.
But, beyond that we must also need to look at the genesis of terrorism and resolution of unresolved disputes is the only way ahead to address these deep fissures that have evolved over decades, he added.
Ch Nisar and Rajnath Singh put forth their respective stands on Kashmir and terrorism on the second day of the SAARC Foreign Ministers Conference.
He added that the region faced crimes like human trafficking and money laundering. “Terrorism is main hurdle in achieving goals”.
He said SAARC condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. But when Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan responded – after relinquishing his position as the chairman of the meeting – Mr Singh found it hard to digest.
Despite heavy security arrangements, the activists of various religious and jihadi outfits in Pakistan protested the visit of Home Minister Rajnath Singh, blaming India for the unrest in Kashmir.
“We’re obviously concerned by the violence and we want to see the tensions de-escalated”, he said.
Accompanied by a delegation comprising officials from his ministry and external affairs, Singh, who is on his maiden visit to Pakistan, will be underlining the need for meaningful cooperation among the South Asian countries.
“Scores of terrorist incidents taking place in Pakistan are equally condemnable if not more”. The Pakistani Interior Minister left the venue immediately after the meeting got over, despite being the host of the lunch.
Pakistan Interior Minister had invited everyone for lunch, but then he left in his vehicle.
However, Singh’s speech during the meet was blacked out. “It was a formal courtesy call, nothing else”, an official said.
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News agency ANI had earlier reported that members of the Indian media, who had come from New Delhi to report on the conference, were not allowed to cover the speech.
