The minister spoke a day after he returned after a two-day Pakistan visit during which he attended a meeting of interior ministers of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc). “I said that there is a need to strongest action not just against the terrorists but also those who support terrorism”, Singh said in Rajya Sabha, where he was congratulated for his stand on terror by all the political parties.
Advertisement
Categorically standing by his stance, Nisar said that no country under the guise of words should criticise Pakistan, giving a sensitive yet disturbing statement out of it. Pakistan had been the biggest victim of terrorism and also had many particulars against terrorism as a state.
On Friday, Singh told the Indian Parliament that he skipped the lunch hosted by his Pakistani counterpart on Thursday because he was not treated well in Islamabad.
Several members had appreciated Rajnath Singh for “boycotting” the lunch and criticised Pakistan for not showing due courtesy to the visiting Indian Home Minister. He suggested that effective measures should be taken to ensure that those involved in terrorist acts do not escape prosecution and punishment, and are extradited so that they can not escape prosecution.
Khan, in his speech earlier, said the “use of excessive force” to suppress civilian unrest was also terrorism.
Briefing media at the State Department, deputy spokesperson Mark Toner also encouraged closer ties between Pakistan and India in the fight against terrorists. There is no bad and good terrorism, terrorism is terrorism. “But after all these, they (Pakistani establishment) don’t consider itself as our neighbours”, Singh said. In his address at the SAARC meeting, Mr Rajnath Singh had asked Pakistan not to glorify the killings of terrorists, and don’t make them martyrs. “But it is true that the reporters from India were not allowed inside”, the Home Minister said, as lawmakers in unison shouted “shame” on Pakistan. On Thursday, Singh had taken a dig at Pakistan for celebrating Burhan Wani as a martyr and observing “Black Day” in his honour.
In a strong message, the United States has asked Pakistan to act against terror groups targeting its neighbours and not just the ones that pose a threat to it, virtually endorsing the stand taken by India at the SAARC ministerial meet. He said he needed to speak to the External Affairs Ministry over it.
Advertisement
The diplomat hotly argued that Indian journalists be allowed to be near the gate to capture Singh’s arrival as Pakistani journalists, video and still camerapersons were present and freely taking shots.
