Islamabad: Pakistan’s top diplomat Sartaj Aziz said on Saturday that Pakistan would not blame RAW, India’s top external intelligence agency, for the Peshawar school attack that left at least 148 people dead, 133 of them children.
Mr Aziz, advisor to the Prime Minister on foreign affairs, said that Pakistan wanted to have friendly ties with all its neighbours.
Addressing a gathering here, Mr Aziz urged the SAARC countries to agree to making efforts for rooting out terrorism instead of playing a blame game against each other.
Dismissing an impression that the government’s appeal against the alleged 26/11 mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi bail was filed on Indian pressure, he said that Lakhvi’s detention was his country’s own decision. “Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi’s detention is necessary till the hearing of the government’s appeal challenging his bail,” Mr Aziz said.
Pakistani civil and military leaders hardly trust India
Pakistan has welcomed India’s positive statements and cooperation offers after the Peshawar school massacre but there is hardly any civil or military leader, who trusts India to be really concerned about growing terrorism.
Interior Minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan: We are a nuclear power. Pakistan’s armed forces have capability to take the bull by the horns. India should stop violating the ceasefire (along the Line of Control) and engage in peace dialogue. When most people here (in Pakistan) suspect India of backing terror groups then there must be something (truth) in it. Unfortunately, we will both have to prove that we are not pulling the strings from behind.
Analyst Talat Masood believes Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s policy of unveiling a new chapter with India has fallen by the wayside.
Analyst Talat Masood
India is not willing to talk on J&K, Siachen, Sir Creek and issues related to nuclear and strategic stability or sharing of waters. The entire composite dialogue, according to India, can wait and will be dealt with unilaterally. On terrorism, India voices its concern, but to demonise Pakistan.
India has its list of genuine grievances that Pakistan needs to address. Islamabad continues to deny India the MFN status because the security establishment would not agree with such a measure. JuD flaunts its presence while New Delhi waits for an outcome on the Mumbai incident and the Pakistani courts keep dragging their feet.
Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, Chairman Senate Defence Committee: calls for cooperation between Pakistan and India to “create new regionalism”. Peace is indivisible, cannot be compartmentalized. Hence, peaceful and just settlement of the Kashmir dispute would be a major plus for peace. India should stop backing terror groups and end ceasefire violations to build trust level. The best way is intelligence sharing
