ISLAMABAD:
Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that he raised issues pertaining to Indian interference in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) during his visit to India.
He made the comments soon after his arrival at Chaklala airbase on Sunday following his three-day visit to India. Malik maintained that in order to address such issues, it had been decided all intelligence be shared between the rival nations.
Pakistan has often blamed India for fostering the insurgency in Balochistan, along with involvement in terrorist attacks in K-P and Afghanistan.
“Both sides are facing the scourge of terrorism… it is time we make efforts for peace and root out the menace,” he maintained.
Meanwhile, he said an Indian delegation will arrive in Pakistan to prepare a term of reference for a visit to India by the judicial commission cross-examining the remaining witnesses in the Mumbai blasts case. He said of the 40 witnesses, 24 had already been cross-examined. The remaining will most likely be examined in January when the commission visits India.
Malik maintained he was repeatedly asked about Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) leader Hafiz Saeed during meetings with Indian leaders.
“I clearly told them that Pakistan had arrested Saeed thrice but he was bailed out by the court each time since the evidence India provided against him wasn’t strong… If they provide (stronger) evidence, we will take action,” he asserted.
Talking about the upcoming cricket series between India and Pakistan, the minister said that while the Indian government had earlier announce 300 visas for Pakistani cricket fans, upon his request Indian Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde agreed to remove the limit altogether.
Terming his visit as ‘good’, Malik said relations with India were improving and insisted it was necessary to forget ‘dark days’ in the past.
“We need to move forward for peace and prosperity and remove all hurdles in the way of our friendship,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 17th, 2012.
COMMENTS (13)
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@baloch: yeah we can see that ! very happy indeed :O .. maybe you need a reality check .
@ravi Sorry Neighbour!! We are very much happy with Pakistan, your cheap tactics ain't gonna work anymore..!
Mr. Malik's visit has been........... bewildering.
He discussed Balochistan issue but did not give any proof that India is involved. India does not need proof my dear, Its world community you have to give proof what India is doing in Balochistan.
@Calypso: Yeah right! Denials, as in OBL was not in the US! As in Pak is the victim of terror, not the jihadi lab that created terror networks around the world! As in the 3 million then-fellow Pakistanis butchered by Pak army - a First where an Army murdered its own countrymen! As in Pak will concur the world and Islam will rule the planet in the next few years! The list goes on! Till date, Pak has not provided a shred of evidence either to India or your masters, US, whom, while you despise and rattle sabres in jingoistic gestures, cant but live of their alms and crumbs!
It is a well known fact that Pak behaves like a spoilt brat when cornered, accusing the whole world of imaginary conspiracies and innumerable denials of the its malafide acts. Get real and get a life!
@calypso-1)balochis r freedom fighters not terrorist 2)give us proof of indias strrong involvement
Indians can't seem to digest the reality, we all know that. The world knows about Indian interference in Balochistan, its a proven fact now (wiki-leaks reports are just a minor example). The frustrated comments by the indian fellows made me laugh really. The comments were coming from the members of a society that is either hallucinating or has completely got carried away by the glam n glitz of their entertainment industry. Their problem is that they need to see beyond the rosy picture of india as a problem-free, clean and safe utopic society that they have painted in their minds. Living in denial wouldn't help. It wouldn't change who and what you are but would only add to your frustration!
@nak: " ... Good Job Malik sb, you shine in India,,,,,,,,,,,very good job.... "
You must have higher expectations.
@Dr V. C. Bhutani:
Either he is just point scoring in Pakistan, or Indian government is too embarrassed to disclose the details of the talks. If he did raise the issue of supporting terrorism in Pakistan by Indian agencies, then he certainly did a good job.
This guy is a clown! No reference to Balochistan or KP in Indian media at all! The rest is posturing as well! And the numerous outrageous gaffes that he has left behind, will definitely delay all further diplomacy for some time! Why doesn't Pak send genuine articulate diplomats rather than those ailing from foot-in-mouth syndrome!
I read three Indian newspapers every day - The Times of India, The Hindustan Times, and The Hindu. In the coverage of Mr Malik's visit I have not seen a reference to discussions on Balochistan and K-P. V. C. Bhutani, Delhi, India, 17 Dec 2012, 1736 IST
Good Job Malik sb, you shine in India,,,,,,,,,,,very good job.
If this is the caliber of representatives Pakistan produce, Somalia...you are overtaken !