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K J M Varma in Islamabad
Undaunted by Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani's rejection of the 'oral' invitation extended by his Pakistani counterpart Moinuddin Haider to visit Islamabad, Islamabad now proposes to press for a SAARC Interior Ministers Conference.
The proposed meet would discuss a host of issues of common interest, including terrorism, extremism, drug and human smuggling, border control and visa restrictions, a Pakistan daily quoted an official as saying.
He said that the issues to be discussed affected almost all SAARC countries and none of them should have any objection to them because steps to curb them would benefit the region.
"Though currently a global campaign was on to tackle issues like terrorism, extremism and drugs, the SAARC countries should also independently make a concerted drive and evolve a joint strategy to tackle them," he was quoted as saying.
The proposal to hold such a meet, publicised through media leaks, followed Advani's rejection of an invitation from Haider to visit Islamabad.
Haider said that he had extended a verbal invitation when he met Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj in Islamabad during the inaugural conference of the SAARC Information Ministers conference on March 7.
He said that he also wished to visit India to discuss all outstanding issues, including the crackdown against militants in Pakistan and about the extradition of the 20 men wanted by India.
While Advani rejected the invitation outright, Swaraj denied meeting Haider at the inaugural meeting, leave alone receiving a verbal invitation.
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