January 24, 2003	Friday	Ziqa’ad 20, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Jan 23: Federal Minister of Information and Media Development Sheikh Rashid Ahmed Thursday rejected the Indian allegation of cross-border terrorism by Pakistan, and said the people of Indian-held Kashmir were fighting an indigenous war of freedom.

He said this while talking to media persons at the launching ceremony of two books, “Mist” and “Kuhkan Ka Dil” written by Safdar Sayyar at a local hotel.

The information minister said: “The statement of the US ambassador Nancy Powell was not based on reality, but an attempt to please India.”

Sh Rashid Ahmed said Pakistan was not providing any material help to Kashmiri freedom fighters except moral, diplomatic and political support in their just indigenous struggle. He said Pakistan wanted to settle all outstanding issues including the core issue of Kashmir with India through dialogue and peaceful means.

India was continuously taking provocative measures, which was dangerous for the regional peace, he said, adding that Pakistan always exercised restraint to de-escalate tension in the region.

“We want peace in the region. But we are fully vigilant in defending our territorial boundaries,” the minister said and added that 140 million people and armed forces of Pakistan were ready to give India a befitting reply if it launched any misadventure.

He said the statements of Indian premier and deputy premier were source of provocation in the region, and world community including the US should take a serious note of their statements to save peace in South Asia.

Responding to a question about the expulsion of four Indian diplomats, Sheikh Rashid said Pakistan had expelled four Indian diplomats, who were involved in anti-Pakistan activities. These included consular officer Vipin Handa, attache Vakil Ramdas, second secretary R. P. Singh and P.H Sundaram, an embassy official, he added.

He said the expulsion of the Indian diplomats was not a tit for tat policy. “We have not expelled the Indian diplomats in reply to India’s nefarious act of expelling four Pakistani diplomats,” he said.

Earlier, addressing the book launching ceremony, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed praised the efforts of the author and said it was a brilliant effort to highlight the problems of the imprisoned toddlers.

Jail is basically a place to reform people and make them useful citizens of the society, but it is unfortunate that our prisons are not doing this job, he added.

Safdar Sayyar, the author, said he had made an effort to highlight the problems of the children, who were future of the nation. “If we failed in protecting our children, then there is no hope of future existence,” he added.