Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh Wednesday arrived in Islamabad to attend South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) meeting of Home/Interior Ministers.
The visit comes amid violence in Indian-held Kashmir where Indian authorities have killed dozens of pro-freedom Kashmiris after killing of 22-year-old youth Burhan Wani, triggering outrage among residents.
“Leaving for Islamabad to attend the SAARC HM Conference. This Conference provides a platform to discuss issues pertaining to security,” Singh wrote on his official Twitter account before his departure.
“Looking forward to underscore the imperative of meaningful cooperation within the region against terrorism and organised crime,” he added.
Former Indian diplomat residing in the United States has claimed that Indian Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh would use the opportunity of SAARC interior ministers conference in Islamabad to proclaim Kashmir as part of India.
According to the ex-diplomat, the Indian minister would utilize the platform to criticize Pakistan over Kashmir dispute and to proclaim the occupied valley as Indian’s internal matter.
He is scheduled to address the participants on August 4.
The former diplomat also said that Singh would avoid participation in the dinner hosted by Pakistan following the conference and would fly back on Thursday.
His speech, reportedly, will dub freedom fighter Burhan Wani as terrorist while a question will be raised, ‘why Pakistan, a SAARC member has declared a terrorist, a freedom fighter?’
Read more: APHC holds anti-Rajnath rally in Islamabad
Rajnath Singh will brush issue of talks between Pakistan and India to better bilateral relations under the carpet during his visit.
On the other hand, Indian media reported that Singh would rake up 26/11 Mumbai attacks and Pathankot attack in his address in Islamabad.
SAARC rule forbids member-states to bring up issues that annoy one or more members and thus Singh will be violating rule of the cooperation on India’s behalf yet again.
Over 72 persons have been killed by Indian forces in occupied Kashmir in the recent clashes after Wani was martyred for seeking right to self-determination and freedom.
Since 1947, two of the three wars fought between the two neighbouring states involved Kashmir dispute.
Talks that were thought to be on way to revival after Indian premier Narendra Modi’s surprise visit in December on Nawaz Sharif’s birthday were jeopardized after attack on Indian airbase in Pathankot in January.
