SAARC Conference
andalib akhter / NEW DEHI
Notwithstanding the tension between the two countries over Kashmir, India’s Home Minister Rajnath Singh will travel to Pakistan next week.
Rajnath will attend the two-day SAARC Home Ministers’ conference in Islamabad.
The conference will be held next Wednesday and Thursday. It is likely to focus on strengthening networking among police authorities of SAARC member-countries and enhancing information-sharing among law enforcement agencies.
Mr Singh will be accompanied by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and senior officers of the Ministry.
The last conference of SAARC Home Ministers was held in Kathmandu in 2014.
Last week Rajnath Singh accused Pakistan of trying to destabilise India, saying it was responsible for worsening the situation in the Kashmir valley by constantly attempting to “mislead” the youth.
Replying to a debate on the situation in Kashmir in the Lok Sabha, Singh assured the house that the government would be successful in restoring normalcy in Kashmir in spite of Pakistan’s sustained efforts.
Pakistan has eulogized Wani as a martyr and accused India of the blatant use of excessive force and violation of human rights in the Kashmir Valley in attempts to curb the huge demonstrations and attacks on police stations and security force bases.
In its most aggressive comments in recent months, India on Saturday retaliated by warning Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that his “dream of Kashmir becoming Pakistan” will not be realized even “to the end of eternity”. Pakistan’s “unabashed embrace of terrorism” and its use of “dirty money” were highlighted by Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj as she stressed, “All of Kashmir belongs to India.”