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  India   Rajnath Singh to Pakistan: Don’t harbour, hail terror

Rajnath Singh to Pakistan: Don’t harbour, hail terror

Published : Aug 5, 2016, 2:06 am IST
Updated : Aug 5, 2016, 2:06 am IST

In a scathing attack on Pakistan but without naming it, home minister Rajnath Singh demanded strong action against nations that support terrorists and terrorist organisations while addressing the Saar

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh along with the Indian delegation in Islamabad. (Photo: PTI)
 Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh along with the Indian delegation in Islamabad. (Photo: PTI)

In a scathing attack on Pakistan but without naming it, home minister Rajnath Singh demanded strong action against nations that support terrorists and terrorist organisations while addressing the Saarc home/interior ministers’ conference in Islamabad Thursday. Mr Singh said: “The strongest possible steps need to be taken not only against terrorists and terrorist organisations but also those individuals, institutions, organisations or nations that support them. Only this will ensure the forces engaged in promoting the heinous crime of terrorism against humanity are effectively countered.”

Hinting at the possible extradition of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and action against Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, the home minister stressed on the need for an effective mechanism among member states to put in place effective measures so that those carrying out terrorist acts do not escape punishment and are extradited or prosecuted.

In an obvious reference to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif describing Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, who was killed in an encounter by security forces in J&K as a “martyr”, the home minister, in a terse signal, said under no circumstances should terrorists be eulogised as martyrs. Continuing his attack on Pakistan and calling for “zero tolerance” against terror, Mr Singh said any attempt to distinguish between “good” and “bad” terrorists was misleading. “No type of terrorism or support to it can be justified on any grounds whatsoever. Immediate and effective action is required against all those who support or encourage international terrorism in any way, whether they are state actors or non-state. Only then justice will be ensured for victims of terrorist attacks such as in Mumbai and Pathankot,” the minister added.

Mr Singh reiterated that terrorism was not glorified and not patronised by any state as one country’s terrorist could not be a martyr or freedom fighter for anyone. Referring to the terrorist attacks in Pathankot, Dhaka and Kabul, Mr Singh stressed the need for stronger resolve and for serious steps to tackle terrorism.

The ongoing tension between India and Pakistan was also visible at the conference when Mr Singh came face to face with his Pakistani counterpart, Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan, for the first time on Thursday and the two leaders barely shook hands. There was not even a formal handshake before Mr Singh moved ahead to enter the meeting hall. The home minister also skipped the lunch hosted by Mr Khan after the meeting as the host too had left the venue.

The Indian media, which had come from New Delhi to report on the conference, was not allowed to enter the venue, which led to an argument between senior Indian and Pakistani officials.

The government, meanwhile, downplayed reports that the home minister’s speech had been “blacked out” by the Pakistani media, saying it was standard Saarc practice that only the host country’s opening statement was made in public and open to the media, while the remaining proceedings were in camera, to allow for a full and frank discussion of all issues. An interior ministry official in Islamabad clarified there was no blackout of Mr Singh’s speech as none of the speeches of visiting ministers was shown. The official claimed only the inaugural session was shown live on Pakistani TV when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and interior minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan made their welcome speeches.

A media briefing by the home minister on his return to New Delhi from Islamabad on Thursday evening was cancelled. Ministry sources said this was mainly because Parliament was in session and the minister would first make a statement in the House on his Pakistan visit. “Whenever Parliament is in session the normal convention is that no policy statements are made by the government outside the House as this could amount to a breach of privilege,” a senior government official explained.

Soon after his arrival in New Delhi, the home minister went straight to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to brief him on the developments at the Saarc meeting.

Mr Singh is learnt to have briefed the PM about the speech he made at the conference, his interactions on the sidelines with leaders, and the deliberations at the official sessions.

Location: India, Delhi, New Delhi