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  India   Border firing: Indian envoy summoned

Border firing: Indian envoy summoned

AGE CORRESPONDENT
Published : Oct 21, 2016, 2:32 am IST
Updated : Oct 21, 2016, 2:32 am IST

Asserting that the Goa Brics Declaration contained “the strongest-ever language against terrorism among all past Brics Summits” with the word “terrorism” featuring 37 times in the declaration, India o

Asserting that the Goa Brics Declaration contained “the strongest-ever language against terrorism among all past Brics Summits” with the word “terrorism” featuring 37 times in the declaration, India on Thursday also said it remained “committed to Saarc and its principles”, saying “our intention is not to throw out the baby with the bathwater” and that it is only “in cleaning up the bathwater”. New Delhi also pointed out that there “was no blanket ban on Pakistani artistes” in India, even as it described a ban imposed by Islamabad on Indian entertainment content as “unfortunate” and “showing a lack of self-confidence”.

Meanwhile, Pakistan also summoned the Indian deputy high commissioner in Islamabad, alleging unprovoked firing on the LoC and lodging a “strong protest”, but India said there was “an exchange of fire connected with attempted infiltration on the Pakistani side”.

“There is no blanket ban on Pakistani artistes,” MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. Government sources indicated that there could be a “case-by-case” scrutiny of any request by Pakistani artistes to travel to India and perform, but that there was “no blanket ban” despite the tension between the two countries after the Uri attack. When asked about the ban imposed by Pakistan on Indian entertainment content, the MEA spokesperson described the ban by Islamabad as “unfortunate”, adding, “It shows lack of self-confidence.”

The MEA also rejected criticism from some quarters (such as the Opposition Congress) that the Goa Declaration was not strong enough, saying, “The Goa Declaration contains the strongest-ever language against terrorism among all past Brics Summits. The word terrorism/ terror features some 37 times in the declaration,” he added.

Terrorism was accorded the centrality at the Goa Summit in a substantive manner than even the Antalya G20 Summit which was held in the shadows of the Paris terror attack... There was unprecedented condemnation of terrorism. Brics leaders condemned strongly recent attacks in India. Brics leaders for the first time called upon all states to prevent terrorist action from their territories. They agreed that religion is no justification for terrorism,” Mr Swarup said. “So, I do not know on what basis it is being said that this was a weak declaration on terrorism,” he added.

On whether India was looking at a Saarc minus Pakistan, the MEA did not give a direct reply, but said, “Our interest in Saarc remains intact, but our concern is that the connectivity, trade, including MFN, and cooperation that Saarc requires and the terror-free atmosphere needed for these initiatives is not there due to the actions of one country in our neighbourhood... We remain committed to Saarc and its principles. Our intention is not to throw out the baby with the bathwater. It is in cleaning up the bathwater.”

On Pakistan summoning the Indian Deputy High Commissioner (DHC) in Islamabad on Thursday, the MEA spokesperson said, “Yes, our DHC was requested to go by the Pakistan Foreign Office. Pakistan conveyed its concerns about alleged ceasefire violations. My understanding is that there was an exchange of fire connected with attempted infiltration on the Pakistani side.”

Location: India, Delhi, New Delhi