New Delhi: India has conveyed to Pakistan that it wants normal neighbourly relations with it in an atmosphere free from terror, and the onus is on Islamabad for creating such an environment, the government said in Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
In a written reply to a question, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan listed a number of developments, including FATF notifying Pakistan in the ‘grey list’, as a vindication or India’s consistent stand that internationally designated terrorist groups and individuals continue to operate from and raise financial resources with impunity in the neighbouring country. They are using territories under Pakistan’s control for carrying out cross-border terrorism in India and elsewhere in South Asia, he said. The minister said the government has consistently raised the issue of cross-border terrorism and placed high emphasis on international cooperation in combating the menace including in bilateral, regional and international fora. Asked about steps for garnering global support for India against terrorism, he said. (PTI)
between intelligence and security agencies at the Centre and the state level is maintained in order to avert terror incidents in the country, he said. “The government has conveyed to Pakistan that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an atmosphere free from terror, hostility and violence. The onus is on Pakistan for creating such an environment,” Muraleedharan said. In his reply to another question, the minister said 83 missing Indian defence personnel, including prisoners of war, are believed to be in Pakistan’s custody. The government has consistently taken up the matter of release and repatriation of these missing Indian defence personnel with Pakistan through diplomatic channel, the minister said. However, Pakistan has not acknowledged the presence of any Indian prisoner of war or missing Indian defence personnel in its custody, so far, he said. There are 64 Indian and believed-to-be Indian civilian prisoners and 209 Indian and believed-to-be Indian fishermen in Pakistan’s custody, he said. As a result of persistent efforts, the government has secured the release and repatriation of 2,110 Indian prisoners, including fishermen, from Pakistan’s custody since 2014, Muraleedharan said. In a written reply to another question on Indian fishermen, he said from time to time, Indian fishermen along with their boats are apprehended by authorities of neighbouring countries for allegedly fishing in their waters. There have been few reports of Indian fishing boats being attacked by Pakistan authorities, the minister said. PTI ASK
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