IANS/Hyderabad

Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Salman Bashir yesterday described as baseless Indian media reports on infiltrations and called for both neighbours to address their respective concerns through dialogue instead of whipping up frenzy.
He called for leaving the issue to be addressed by the military authorities rather than pointing fingers. He also found fault with the way the Indian media, especially news channels, were focusing on “so-called incursions and infiltrations”.
Talking to reporters here, he maintained that Pakistan wanted peace on the Line of Control (LOC) in Jammu and Kashmir and was ready for dialogue on all difficult issues to resolve them amicably.
He stressed the need for broad-ranging engagement through dialogue to build confidence saying “you address our concerns and we will address yours”.
Bashir pointed out that at the recent meeting between the prime ministers of the two countries in New York, it was decided that director generals, military operations (DGMOs) should be asked to give suggestions to ensure ceasefire is respected.
Criticising Indian television channels, he said some of them were making good business out of, what he called, negative reporting about Pakistan. He commented that Pakistan bashing was favourite pastime of these channels.
“Friendship can flourish only if it is nurtured and cultivated in hearts and minds of people and by poisoning the hearts and minds of the people, you are killing the very soil on which it is to be based,” he said.
“In the last few days, the Indian media has been focusing on Karen sector. There are concerns and we have concerns. Let us sit together and address them that is the civilised way of dealing with this instead of whipping up frenzy and creating hysteria. It does no good to anybody,” he said to queries about the alleged involvement of the Pakistani army in ceasefire violations.
“But if we are going to talk about infiltrations and incursions, then we must also talk about something which is very important and which needs objective reflection in Pakistan, in this country and elsewhere,” he said, and asked who was funding the terrorists who were targeting civilians, the Pakistani Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence.
“We have evidence which we have shared and we are prepared to share with the rest of the world and particularly with government of India on these aspects about fuelling of acts of terrorism in Pakistan. I say this not to make a propaganda point,” he said.
“If you want, I can vitiate atmosphere by spelling out those concerns but I don’t want finger pointing. Let us address each other’s concerns... that is the way forward and that is the logical, rational and civilised way. Let us not do this through media,” Bashir added.
“Whoever is making the argument that they (infiltrators) have not descended from heaven, I want to ask who are these thousands of people who are involved in heinous acts of terrorism in Pakistan. Have they descended from heaven? We agree they have not descended from heaven. From where are they being funded and sourced?” he asked.
“Unfortunately in this country you don’t see this. It is not mentioned here. What you see is propaganda against Pakistan which serves no good. It is detrimental. We will deal with this issue in Pakistan. This issue is not local to Pakistan, it is global and for us it is also regional,” he added.
Bashir called for restoring the dialogue process. “We should resolve that whatever incident happens, we will not deviate and will continue to tread this path,” he said.
“There are forces which are inimical to good relations. If you terminate or a put pause in the dialogue you are playing into hands of those very elements,” he said to queries why some terror attack happens whenever the two countries make efforts to improve ties.
He said Pakistan more than any other country suffered due to terrorism, noting his country lost 50,000 civilians to terrorism while about 10,000 armed forces died while combating terror.
He reiterated that Pakistan respects Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and denied that Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif termed him a “dehati aurat (rural woman)”.

Pakistan proposes visa facilitation in Hyderabad

Pakistan high commission is ready to send its officials to Hyderabad for visa facilitation and will make a request to the Indian government in this regard, said High Commissioner Salman Bashir.
Responding to the demand for setting up a visa office in Hyderabad, he said the high commission would submit a proposal to the government.
“I am aware that we require government of India’s approval for visa facilitation. Whether the visa office comes up or not, at least our consulate teams can come and facilitate. We are ready to do this and we will make a request to the government of India,” he said.
The Pakistani envoy was talking to reporters at the residence of Syed Vicaruddin, chief editor of Urdu daily Rehnuma-e-Deccan.
Vicaruddin stressed the need for visa facilitation as many families here have their relatives in Pakistan. He said this would benefit many people who are unable to travel to Delhi.
He pointed out that the Pak consulate teams used to visit Hyderabad for visa facilitation when Abdul Sattar was the high commissioner (1978-1982). Vicaruddin also called for introducing a weekly flight between Hyderabad and Karachi.
The Pakistani high commissioner met some eminent personalities at a lunch hosted by Vicaruddin.
Bashir, who is a on a two-day visit to Hyderabad, yesterday planted a tree at biodiversity park, the foundation stone of which was laid during the global biodiversity conference last year.
“We are not only showing our commitment to convention on biodiversity but also planting a tree of friendship. We hope to see these trees grow and under their shade people develop and prosper with peace,” the envoy said.
On his first visit to any city in south India, he was impressed with the city’s development, especially in the information technology sector.
“I am happy to be in this historic city. It has its own importance and reflects India’s culture and civilization. People are civilized, peaceful and content,” he said.
“Hyderabad symbolises the best. We are proud of this city, its past glory and present development. It can serve as symbol of hope for the people of this region as a whole,” Bashir said while referring to the talent and creativity of people of both India and Pakistan.
He called for more people-to-people interactions and the cooperation between educational institutions of the two countries. “We not only want more road, rail and air links but we also want visa complexities to be simplified,” he added.