Swaraj talks of India’s strong message to Pak as NDA completes 100 days in power
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday blamed Pakistan for derailing the dialogue process by involving Kashmiri separatists in a talk that was supposed to be only between the Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan, that too, to prepare a road map for future talks between the two countries. While talking about the achievements of the NDA Government, during its first 100 days in power, Swaraj asserted that by calling off the talks, the Government has sent a strong message to Pakistan: “Either you talk to us, or the separatists.”
“It was not too much to expect from Pakistan that it should not interfere in the internal matters of India. I don’t know what was the need for their High Commissioner Abdul Basit to invite separatists for a talk. He himself invited them. Who derailed the initiativeIJ What did they achieveIJ,” Swaraj said, while questioning the rationale behind holding talks with separatists.
Swaraj, however, indicating that there may be a window for resumption of talks in near future. “There no fullstop in diplomatic journey. It is always commas and semi colon. And after all these short pauses people move forward,” she added. The Minister also expressed India’s disappointment in delay of the trial of Mumbai terror attack case in Pakistan. She snubbed Pakistan’s argument that India is yet to give them any details of investigations of Samjhauta Express in 2007, where a few Pakistani nationals were killed. Swaraj argued that 2008 Mumbai attacks and blasts in Samjhauta Express in 2007 are two different issues which cannot be compared to each other.
Describing the NDA Government as proactive, strong and sensitive, Swaraj said past the three months have been full of challenges. “But we have faced them well and moved forward at fast pace.”
She also listed visits of SAARC State heads during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony, and visits of various Ministers of P5+1 countries — United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, Germany, and China. Swaraj added that 54 countries have been invited during the upcoming Indo-African summit.
With China, Swaraj underlined, that India’s relationship is both of co-operation and competition and hoped Chinese President Xi Jiping’s upcoming visit will result in something “substantial”.
“We have been proactive. But we have sent strong messages too. The Chinese Foreign Minister was told that if we believe in One-China Policy you should also believe in One-India Policy,” Swaraj said on the issue of China showing Arunachal Pradesh as part of China and staples visas to people from Jammu & Kashmir and Arunachal. “US Secretary of State John Kerry was told: “You call us friend and then spy on us too!” Pakistan’s High Commissioner was told: “Either you talk to them (seperatists) or talk to us,” Swaraj added.
She listed out online deadbody tracking facility, evacuation and rescue missions of Indian nationals from violence-hit Ukraine (1,000 students), Iraq (6,493), libya (3,983) as a sensitive face of the Government.
Meanwhile, the Minister announced that the all seven North-East States will have their own passport centres before March 31 and a special camp will be held in 33 districts of the country on October 31 to help people in getting passports.
She said her Ministry has taken the initiative to clear the backlog of passports. There was a shortage of 5.37 lakh booklets shortage but today it is zero because the Government has ordered for over six lakh booklets to curb delays.