Rajnath’s insult in Pak result of flip-flops of Modi govt

Pakistan hosted the Saarc meeting amid a bloody unrest in the Kashmir Valley that has left more than 50 people dead in clashes between security forces and Kashmiri protesters in almost a month of turmoil. About the “blackout”, I will need to ask the Ministry of External Affairs about protocol of past occasions.

Mr Singh said “dark clouds of terrorism” are enveloping not only South Asia but the entire world which is “extremely anxious of this grave danger”.

The home minister said he suggested to the Saarc member countries that the “ban on terror outfits by the United Nations must be respected”. “They should not make the mistake of distinguishing between good terrorism and bad terrorism”, he said.

“Those who provide support, encouragement, give sanctuary and safe haven and assistance to terrorists and terrorism must be isolated”, he further said.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the meeting said that Kashmir was witnessing a new wave of freedom movement, Singhvi said insisting that “never before had the Pakistan government dared talk like this”. The Interior/Home Ministers’ of SAARC nations were with Sharif for about 20 minutes during which only pleasantries were exchanged, the official said, adding nothing formal was discussed.

Pakistan decried atrocities in Kashmir as India urged isolation of “countries supporting terrorism” at regional… “While the rest of the proceedings are in camera, which allows for a full and frank discussion of issues”, Indian media quoted government sources as saying.

Singh arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday evening to attend the 7th SAARC Home/Interior Ministers’ conference during which he is expected to raise the issue of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, designated as global terrorist, and cross border terrorism.

Journalists accompanying the Home Minister from India were not allowed inside the venue hall to cover the conference after which Rajnath Singh made a hasty retreat and skipped the lunch hosted by his Pakistani counterpart Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.

After returning to Delhi, Rajnath Singh rushed to meet Modi straight from the airport to “debrief” him about the events during his visit to Pakistan. However, Singh’s speech during the meet was blacked out. But then he left in his vehicle.

Rajnath Singh said countries needed to take “strongest possible steps” not only against terrorists and their organisations but also against “individuals, institutions, organisations or nations that support them”.