'Unbelievable' to allege Pak involvement in 26/11: Bashir

July 15, 2012

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New Delhi, July 15: Pakistan's new envoy to India Salman Bashir today said it was "unbelievable" and "incredible" to allege his country's state institutions' involvement in the Mumbai attacks, days after New Delhi demanded further action following LeT terrorist Abu Jundal's revelations.

Stating that Pakistan was looking at a new way of conducting its ties with India, Bashir said he expects India to do its part since it takes "two to tango".

"As I said if our own army headquarters are attacked, if ISI offices are attacked, then I think it is really unbelievable, incredible to allege that Pakistani state institutions have been involved in this (Mumbai attacks). We ought to look at the situation very objectively in our own respective national interests," Bashir told Karan Thapar on CNN-IBN's Devil's Advocate programme.

Trying to clear any question marks over Islamabad's commitment to renewed peace process with India especially in the backdrop of the arrest of Jundal, who has alleged involvement of certain ISI officers in the Mumbai attacks, Bashir said Pakistan's leadership, state institutions and people have realised that it is in national interest to have best of relations.

"I would say there has been a sea change in Pakistan- India relationship scenario. I can say for Pakistan with great degree of certainty that all levels, the leadership, state institutions, people of Pakistan, we realise that it is in Pakistan's self interest, national interest to have best of relations," he said.

On the issue of terror, Bashir said Pakistan was willing to cooperate and reiterated his country's offer for a joint investigation into the Mumbai attacks. He said Pakistan is yet to hear from India on this.

Replying to queries if Pakistan was willing to probe the involvement of its state institutions in the Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people, Bashir argued that his country itself was a victim of terror, which he described as a "virus".

He also said it was wrong to say Pakistan was epicentre of terror.

Refraining from direct comments, he said Pakistan was willing to cooperate and said it was "mindful" of its responsibilities.

He referred to the recent Foreign Secretary-level talks and said there was "very good conversation, good dialogue" which also included the points raised by India pertaining to Jundal specifically and other matters related to terror.

Pressed further on the issue of Jundal, who was deported from Saudi Arabia recently with a fake Pakistani passport, Bashir said India should share information with Pakistan.

Asked if Jundal's statements on role of Pakistani state elements in the Mumbai attacks is a corroboration of what Pakistan-born American terrorist David Headley said, Bashir said one cannot take things reported in the media at face value.

"Elements of Pakistan's state, that is what the media has been saying attributing it to Abu Jundal. We have taken note of all that is being said here and my answer again is the same. Let the two sides get together, work through this and I think you cannot take the word of an individual or what is being said out in the public opinion, more credence than actual conversations at official track," he said.

Bashir also denied charges that the Mumbai terror attacks trial in Pakistan was a sham, saying Islamabad was serious about it.

He deflected the blame to the judicial process and said the Pakistan government has done its best and "will continue to persist to ensure justice finally prevails."

Told that Pakistan was not pushing enough, the Pakistan envoy said, "Well, I would not like to say anything regarding the subjective assessments but the point is that some of these things, like for instance the Samjhauta thing that took place in 2007 is yet under investigation.

"I think we ought to look at the spirit, we ought to be fixated on objectives that we want to achieve and not get into forensics of a particular situation".

On the issue of Lashkar-e-Taiba founder and Jamaat-ul-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, who continues to roam freely in Pakistan despite a USD 10 million bounty for information leading to his arrest and prosecution, Bashir said one has to follow the law.

"He (Saeed) was under what was called preventive detention, maintenance of public order. It continued for sometime till he was released or orders of Lahore High Court...Both the LeT and the JuD, they have been restricted, prohibited under law," he

said.

Asked if he was trying to say that Pakistan is doing all it can to restrain Saeed but has to act according to law, Bashir said, "That is unfortunately the dilemma. The civilised society has to operate within the limits of law".

Bashir said the world is changing fast and there are lot of opportunities between Pakistan and India.

Asked if Pakistan was looking at a new way of conducting relations with India, the career diplomat said, "That is certainly I say is a sincere intent. But of course it takes two to tango. I think we are well on the way in terms of looking at new approach."

Bashir noted that the Prime Ministers of both countries have met several times besides Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's recent visit during which "they have had very good conversations".

"So I think on the drawing board, if I can say so, the theoretical constructs are almost there. Now it is for people like us who are in this business to give it more form, shape, meaning," he said, referring to the the diplomats of both countries have to now take the process forward.

Bashir also said Pakistan was looking forward to a visit by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and that "a visit by the Prime Minister of India would go a long way in not only cementing but also in taking the relationship forward".

Asked if India and Pakistan have learnt to handle the Kashmir issue with less acrimony and more accommodation given the fact that it did not create any problems during the recent Foreign Secretary-level meeting, Bashir replied, "I should think so".

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News Network
January 31,2020

Jan 31: Twenty-three children aged between six months and 15 years, who had been taken hostage by a murder accused after inviting them to his daughter's birthday party, were rescued late on Thursday night after police killed their captor in a village here.

The hostage drama began at Kasaria village in the afternoon and continued for about eight hours.

"The accused was killed and there were about 23 children who were rescued safely," Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi told reporters at a hurriedly called press conference at 1.20 am.

"The accused had invited the children for the birthday party of his daughter and held them hostage. It started about 5.45 pm on January 30 and continued for about eight hours," Director General of Police (DGP) O P Singh said, adding that in the entire operation they had tried to "engage" the accused and were successful.

He said the accused, identified as Subhash Batham, had initially released a six-month-old girl by handing her over to his neighbour from a balcony.

Eyewitnesses said a restive crowd gathered outside the house where the children were kept with some women wailing and praying for their safe release.

The crowd broke open the door of the house to rescue the children, they said.

As the accused opened fire, the police retaliated killing him on the spot.

In the exchange of fire, the captor's wife was injured, but none of the children suffered any injury.

A man and two policemen also suffered bullet injuries.

The motive of the accused was not known immediately.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath monitored the situation in Farrukhabad, which is nearly 200 km from state capital Lucknow.

"The CM as soon as he got to know about the incident called a meeting of the crisis management group and personally monitored the situation and ensured children are rescued safely," Awasthi said.

Earlier, a team of NSG (National Security Guard) commandos had taken a special aircraft to reach Farukhabad, a senior security official in Delhi said.

Police said Batham, a murder accused, seemed to be mentally unstable.

Inspector-General of Police, Kanpur Range, Mohit Agarwal, said, "The man called the children for a birthday party and held them hostage in the basement of the house. He fired six shots from inside the building."

Batham initially wanted to talk to the local MLA, but refused to speak to the leader when he arrived, Agarwal said.

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News Network
March 5,2020

New Delhi, Mar 5: The primary classes of all schools in the national capital will remain closed till March 31 to prevent a possibility of spread of coronavirus, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced on Thursday.

According to Directorate of Education (DoE) officials, while elaborate guidelines have been issued about preventive measures for coronavirus, students of nursery and primary classes are too young to understand the risk, making them more prone to infectious diseases.

Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio, tweeted, "As a precautionary measure to prevent the possibility of spread of COVID-19 amongst our children, Delhi Government has directed the immediate closure of all primary schools (Govt/ aided/ private/MCD/NDMC) till 31/3/20(sic)."

A senior DoE official said, "Elaborate guidelines have already been issued. However, students of nursery and primary classes are too young to understand the risks associated with COVID-19. Thus they are more prone to infectious diseases and mingle around with classmates more often."

"It will be good if they are trained in the do's and dont's under the care and supervision of their parents at home. However, students of classes other than primary will continue to come to schools or examination centres for writing their examination as per schedule. The teaching, as well as non-teaching staff, will also attend regular school," the official said.

As of now, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country stands at 30, including 16 Italian tourists. The figure includes the first three cases reported from Kerala last month who have already been discharged following recovery.

Alerted by the coronavirus case reported in Delhi-NCR, schools in the region have sent out advisories to parents suggesting that they do not send their wards to attend classes even in case of mild cough or cold, and saying that they may declare holidays if the need arises. A few schools have announced already holidays and others have advanced their spring break.

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Agencies
February 9,2020

Panaji, Feb 10: Archbishop of Goa and Daman, Rev Filipe Neri Ferrao, has urged the central government to "immediately and unconditionally revoke the Citizenship Amendment Act" and stop quashing the "right to dissent".

He also appealed to the government not to implement the proposed countrywide National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR).

Diocesan Centre for Social Communications Media, a wing of the Goa Church, in a statement on Saturday said, "The Archbishop and the Catholic community of Goa would like to appeal to the government to listen to the voice of millions in India, to stop quashing the right to dissent and, above all, to immediately and unconditionally revoke the CAA and desist from implementing the NRC and the NPR."

The CAA, NRC and NPR are "divisive and discriminatory" and will certainly have a "negative and damaging effect" on a multi-cultural democracy like ours, the church said.

There is serious concern that NRC and NPR will result in "direct victimisation of the underprivileged classes, particularly Dalits, adivasis, migrant labourers, nomadic communities and the countless undocumented people who, after having been recognised as worthy citizens and voters for more than 70 years, will suddenly run the risk of becoming stateless and candidates for detention camps," it said.

There has been widespread discontent and open protests throughout the country and even abroad against the CAA, NRC and NPR, which are "forecasting a systematic erosion of values, principles and rights" that have been guaranteed to all citizens in the Constitution, the release said.

Eminent citizens, including top intellectuals and legal luminaries, have taken a studied and unequivocal stand against the CAA, NRC and NPR, it noted.

Goa also witnessed several protests, which transcended the confines of religious and caste affiliation and brought people from all walks of life together on one united platform, said the statement.

It said Christians in India have always been a peace loving community and deeply committed to the ideals of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity, enshrined in the
Constitution.

"We have always taken great pride that our beloved country is a secular, sovereign, socialist, pluralistic anddemocratic republic," the church said.

The very fact that CAA uses religion goes against the secular fabric of the country, it said.

"It goes against the spirit and heritage of our land which, since times immemorial, has been a welcoming home to all, founded on the belief that the whole world is one big family," the church said.

"We pray for our beloved country, that good sense, justice and peace prevail in the hearts and minds of all," it added.

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