ISLAMABAD, Jan 21: Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has said that India is making every possible effort to defame Pakistan as a ‘terrorist state’ but its dream will never materialize.

The minister was commenting on BBC Radio on a recently issued statement of Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee wherein he had alleged that Pakistan had become a base of international terrorism.

He said the statement of the Indian prime minister was baseless as Pakistan had played a key role with the world in the war against terrorism.

Not only the United States but the whole of Europe appreciated Pakistan’s stance against terrorism, he said.

Responding to a question regarding inclusion of Pakistanis in the US Immigration and Naturalization Service’s list vis-a-vis the country’s role as a front-line state in international anti-terrorism campaign, he said the matter must be taken in view of US culture and its approach.

Commenting on India’s view that if the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation’s summit was held in Nepal, it might participate, the minister said: “We were fully prepared for Saarc summit and waiting for Vajpayee to participate in it.”

He said Pakistan would be in a position to comment when India’s stand was clear.—APP