The Hindu : Front Page : “Insinuations will vitiate atmosphere”

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
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“Insinuations will vitiate atmosphere”

Nirupama Subramanian

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Monday that India and Pakistan had come “closer” and developed a “better understanding” of each other through the peace process, and stressed that insinuations from the Indian side about cross-border terrorism would vitiate the atmosphere.

In an interaction with The Hindu on the eve of the India-Pakistan talks, the first formal high-level contact between the two countries after the change of government here set to begin on Tuesday, Mr. Qureshi said terrorism was a global issue and Pakistan itself was a victim.

“We are also suffering on account of terrorism. I lost my leader [Benazir Bhutto] on account of terrorism; we had a number of casualties in Mardan yesterday [Sunday] on account of terrorism,” Mr. Qureshi said.

The Minister said he had condemned the Jaipur blasts “not just because it was the right thing to do, but because I felt about it – human lives were lost, innocent people suffered, and I felt very, very strongly about it.”

Mr. Qureshi, who was part of the track two diplomacy of the India-Pakistan peace process, said Pakistan was “very keen” about tackling the menace of terrorism.

“We have co-operated with our friends and allies and our partners. And India is a country we have very good and friendly relations with, and we will, and we are willing to co-operate with India on this and we expect the same from them,” Mr. Qureshi said.

Asked about Indian concerns on the recent reported activities of the United Jihad Council and other banned groups in Pakistan, he said he wanted “to approach this meeting in a positive manner” and “such insinuations and statements will vitiate the atmosphere.”

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