Dawood living near Pak-Afghan border, says Indian minister

Published November 23, 2014
Dawood would often be seen waving the Indian national flag from the VIP lounge in the pavilion where he had a special enclosure before he fell from grace with his Indian patrons. — AFP/file
Dawood would often be seen waving the Indian national flag from the VIP lounge in the pavilion where he had a special enclosure before he fell from grace with his Indian patrons. — AFP/file

NEW DELHI: Ahead of next week’s Saarc summit in Kathmandu where much of the world wants Indian and Pakistani leaders to resume their stalled talks, Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh chose to blame Pakis­tan on Saturday for a clutch of India’s cross-border headaches including terrorism.

“Terrorism in India is not home grown, but is externally aided... It is from Pakistan,” Mr Singh told the Hindustan Times leadership Summit here.

Press Trust of India quoted him as saying that Pakistan is providing shelter also to India’s underworld fugitive Dawood Ibrahim who he claimed is currently staying along the Pak-Afghan border.

Though India wants to maintain cordial relations with Pakistan, Islamabad seems not too keen on establishing friendly relations with New Delhi, Mr Singh said though he hinted vaguely at the possibility of a breakthrough.

“Terrorism in India is fully Pakistan-sponsored. Pakis­tan says non-state actors are involved. But is ISI non-state actor? ISI is aiding terrorism,” Mr Singh said. The routine accusation is just as routinely denied by Pakistan.

Listing Pakistan’s acts of omission and commission, Mr Singh said it is not taking initiative to punish those involved in 2008 Mumbai terror attacks as the case in that country was moving at a very slow pace. “Pakistan is not helping in the judicial process. In fact it is trying to scuttle it,” he said.

According to the minister, Dawood has been living in Pakistan and des­pite many requests, the neighbouring country has not handed him over to India. “When the Pakistan premier came to India, our prime minister told him to hand over Dawood. We are pursuing it. We are trying to build diplomatic pressure... As he is the most wanted cri­minal... Right now he is along Pak-Afghan border,” PTI quoted him as saying.

Asked whether India would carry out a “hot pursuit” to nab Dawood, Mr Singh said: “Give us time. Strategy cannot be divulged. There is no timeframe. But we are trying so that Pakistan hands over Dawood as early as possible. Diplomatic pressure is building up.”

On whether India will make efforts to have dialogue with Pakistan, the minister said New Delhi wants friendly ties with not only Pakistan but with all the neighbouring countries as well as others nations across the world.”

Published in Dawn, November 23th , 2014

Opinion

Editorial

Afghan turbulence
Updated 19 Mar, 2024

Afghan turbulence

RELATIONS between the newly formed government and Afghanistan’s de facto Taliban rulers have begun on an...
In disarray
19 Mar, 2024

In disarray

IT is clear that there is some bad blood within the PTI’s ranks. Ever since the PTI lost a key battle over ...
Festering wound
19 Mar, 2024

Festering wound

PROTESTS unfolded once more in Gwadar, this time against the alleged enforced disappearances of two young men, who...
Defining extremism
Updated 18 Mar, 2024

Defining extremism

Redefining extremism may well be the first step to clamping down on advocacy for Palestine.
Climate in focus
18 Mar, 2024

Climate in focus

IN a welcome order by the Supreme Court, the new government has been tasked with providing a report on actions taken...
Growing rabies concern
18 Mar, 2024

Growing rabies concern

DOG-BITE is an old problem in Pakistan. Amid a surfeit of public health challenges, rabies now seems poised to ...