|
Indian Information Minister: India, Pakistan Need Mediator
By
Aamir Latif, IOL Pakistan correspondent
ISLAMABAD,
March 11 (IslamOnline) — India’s visiting Information Minister
Sushma Swaraj has said that India has recognized Pakistan from the
core of heart adding that both the countries have to see a third
country hindering them from getting close.
In
an exclusive interview with IslamOnline here Sunday she said that if
Pakistan hands over any list of criminals, India will take
appropriate action after taking it into consideration. However,
Pakistan has not acted so far on the list given by India, she added.
She
hoped that the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
(SAARC) would play a vital role in bringing the member countries
close, adding that the bilateral issues should not be moved to SAARC
as “it will affect its credibility and impartiality.”
The
member countries will have to bring changes in the charter of the
SAARC before taking up the bilateral disputes on this platform. To a
question, she said that her visit to Pakistan as official has been
successful but “I regret that I could not meet my friends during
my stay.”
On
the statements of President General Pervez Musharraf on the revival
of bilateral relations she said “what is the need of inviting
third country to mediate when both the countries have agreed to
resolve all contentious issues including Kashmir on mutual basis.
“When
we will call the third country for mediation, it will take mileage
out of it with assuming the status of lord," she continued. We
will remain where we are now and the third country will continue to
take advantage, she insisted.
She
urged both the countries have to locate which third country is
hampering the way of getting us close to each other. As far as the
disputed issues including Kashmir are concerned, both the sides will
have to create an appropriate environment so that the we could
mutually settle them.
She
announced that India has no nefarious designs against Pakistan.
“We want good friendly relations but Pakistan will have to ensure
acceptance of our demands. Unless the cross border terrorism comes
to end and twenty criminals wanted by India are handed over to us,
the situation cannot go normal, she indicated.
She
added if any list of criminals is given by Pakistan, we will decide
it after considering all its aspects. It is imperative to remove the
legal hindrances on the extradition of criminals between both of the
countries, she maintained.
Responding
to a question, she said that communal riots in Gujarat have been
controlled. The rehabilitation work of the victims is underway. A
high-powered inquiry to tracing the real hand behind these riots
will be ordered. Judicial commission can be constituted if deemed
necessary, she remarked.
She
also said that the matter of construction of a Ram Temple in place
of Babri Mosque is pending with Supreme Court and government wants
to resolve it in a peaceful manner to avert Hindu-Muslim riots on
this issue.
She
added that a democratic government is in place in India and “we
take all decisions in a democratic manner for which forums and
institutions are functioning."
|
