In a clear indication of further dip in India-Pakistan relations, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is likely to skip the forthcoming SAARC Finance Ministers’ meeting in Islamabad next week. The meeting scheduled for August 25-26 is now likely to be attended by Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das.
“It is due to political reasons that the Finance Minister may not visit Pakistan. You all know what happened last time and what is happening,” said highly-placed sources, referring to Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to Islamabad earlier this month.
Jaitley giving a miss to the crucial SAARC meeting is reflective of the tough stand taken by India against Pakistan following the latter’s open support to separatists in Kashmir Valley. Jaitley’s decision to skip the SAARC meeting comes at a time when Indian Members of Parliament are attending SAARC Young Parliamentarians’ Conference in Islamabad.
Incidentally, Rajnath Singh’s visit to Islamabad for the SAARC Interior Ministers’ meeting was mired in controversy. Singh had gone to Islamabad despite suggestions from some quarters not to attend. The Bangladesh Home Minister had not attended the meeting following tension in diplomatic ties with Pakistan and Indian Opposition parties wanted the Government to follow suit. However, Singh went ahead with the meeting where he flagged India’s concerns on counter-terrorism, drug trafficking, weapon smuggling, etc.
Relations between India and Pakistan have touched new a low after evidence appeared of Pak authorities supporting trouble in the Valley. During the all-party meeting called by the Government recently it was decided to take a tough stand against Pakistan and give a befitting reply for its anti-India activities in Jammu & Kashmir.
During the same meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi voiced India's open support for Balochistan while asking Pakistan to vacate the occupied territory of Kashmir. Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan also figured in Modi's Independence Day speech which is seen as a befitting reply to his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif's statement that he wished to see Kashmir as part of Pakistan one day.
The experience during Singh's visit to Islamabad was not very good for India to risk sending another senior Minister. Pakistani leadership was not only cold to Singh but the organisers also blacked out Indian media from covering the event. Besides, there were irresponsible statements against Singh coming from Pakistan. The latest media reports from Islamabad have claimed that Pakistan has decided to play a good host this time and avoid a repetition of the tense atmosphere that prevailed during Singh's visit.
Interestingly, in an unconnected statement, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar termed going to Pakistan to be equivalent to going to hell. Parrikar, at a function in Rewari, said Pakistan has always promoted terrorism and the country is now bearing its consequences. Referring to the infiltration bid foiled by the Indian Army on Tuesday, Parrikar said, "Kal humare jawano ne paanch logon (terrorists) ko wapas bhej dia, Pakistan mein jaana aur nark (hell) mein jaana ek hi hai (Our soldiers sent back five terrorists yesterday. Going to Pakistan is same as going to hell)."
While assuring that "Indian soldiers will give a befitting reply to every attack", the Minister added that PoK is part of India and violation of human rights must stop in Balochistan.