NEW DELHI, Apr 8: Linking the progress in bilateral ties to Pakistan taking action against Hafiz Saeed and others responsible for Mumbai terror attacks, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today plainly told President Asif Ali Zardari that this was important for normalisation of relations between the two neighbours.
Zardari, who made a stopover in the Capital for little over two hours on his way to pilgrimage to Ajmer, heard from Singh a reiteration of India’s commitment to engage with Pakistan but was left in no doubt that action on terrorism was an essential step towards that.
Singh brought up the issue of terrorism “upfront” and activities of LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, mastermind of 26/11 terror strikes in Mumbai, on whom the US announced a USD 10 million bounty although Pakistani leader had said in Lahore yesterday that he did not expect Singh “will make me sit (and discuss only) this issue.”
“Taking up the issue of terrorism, the Prime Minister told Zardari that it was imperative that perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack be brought to justice and prevent activities aimed against India from Pakistani soil. He also discussed the activities of Hafiz Saeed,” Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai told reporters here.
“The problem of terrorism which is a major issue by which the Indian people will judge progress in bilateral relationship,” Mathai quoted Singh as having told Zardari.
The 40-minute one-on-one meeting between the two leaders covered a wide gamut of bilateral, regional and global issues and in brief comments to the media, Singh and Zardari termed their talks as “constructive” and “fruitful” where they agreed to continue with step-by-step approach in addressing issues like Kashmir, Siachin and Sir Creek among other matters.
Singh played host to Zardari and his son Bilawal along with few other members of 40-strong entourage at his Race Course Road residence.
External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, Home Minister P Chidambaram, Rahul Gandhi, BJP leaders L K Advani and Sushma Swaraj and Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik were among the 20 guests at the lunch.
Asked about Zardari’s response to the Prime Minister’s remarks on Saeed, Mathai said the Pakistan President felt that further discussion was required and since the Home Secretaries of the two countries will be meeting shortly, the issue will be taken up that time.
According to diplomatic sources, the issue of terrorism was discussed “upfront” by the Prime Minister, who mentioned that he wanted normal relations between India and Pakistan and to be able to move in that direction, action regarding terrorism, specifically bringing the perpetrators of Mumbai attacks to justice, is one of the expectation.
“This can be kept in mind… To make progress in relationship,” sources quoted Singh as having told Zardari.
Improving trade relations between India and Pakistan was touched upon, Mathai said, adding the Commerce Ministers of the two countries had already discussed the issue in detail earlier and a way forward has been decided.
“The Prime Minister appreciated that Pakistan has moved ahead on bilateral trade,” the Foreign Secretary said.
Earlier, in his statement to press, Singh said, “President Zardari and I had a very constructive and friendly exchange of views on all bilateral issues which affect the relation between India and Pakistan.
“President Zardari is on a private visit and I have taken advantage of this visit to discuss with him all bilateral issues and I am very satisfied with the outcome of this visit. President Zardari has also invited me to visit Pakistan. I would be very happy to visit Pakistan on a mutually convenient date.”
He said the relation between India and Pakistan should become normal. “That’s our common desire. We have number of issues and we are willing to find practical and pragmatic solutions to all those issues and that’s the message President Zardari and I wish to convey,” he said.
Describing the talks “fruitful”, Zardari said “We would like to have better relations with India. We spoke on all topics that we could have spoken about and hope to meet on Pakistan soil very soon.”
Mathai said Singh’s visit to Pakistan will be “worked out after the substantive preparations for it have been made.”
Singh and Zardari also talked about ways to improve people-to-people contact and it was decided that the liberal visa regime, agreed upon in 2011, should be inked during the forthcoming meeting of the respective Home and Interior Secretaries, Mathai added.
He said the two leaders noted that there has been steady progress in the India-Pakistan dialogue, which was restarted in 2011 after a breakdown in 2008 in the aftermath of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.
Asked about what qualitative change has been there for Singh to change his mind on visiting Pakistan, the diplomatic sources said, “I won’t say there has been qualitative difference…. Formula used was step-by-step approach and we need to take dialogue forward. And the expectation is that dialogue process will make the kind of progress which is solid and enough to make it a very substantive visit for the Prime Minister.”
Singh has always maintained that he will visit Pakistan only if there was some “substantive” progress in ties.
Sources said the issue of ailing Pakistani microbiologist Khaleel Chishti, lodged in Rajasthan jail, also figured during the lunch when Home Minister P Chidambaram was inquired about him. Chidambaram is understood to have said that the Chishti case was before the court, which was yet to take a view on the matter.
Meanwhile, Zardari today offered prayers at the historic 13th century dargah of sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti in this pilgrim town after which a one million USD donation for the shrine was announced.
At the end of his visit to the shrine marked by tight security this evening, Zardari said he felt “a great spiritual happiness” after coming to this holy place, which was “beyond description.”
A one million USD donation (Rs five crore) for the welfare of the shrine was announced on behalf of Zardari by a member of his delegation, according to the Anjuman Committee’s vice president Syed Khalimuddin Chishti.
Clad in a blue shalwar kameez, 56-year-old Zardari, accompanied by his son Bilawal, Interior Minister Rehman Malik and members of his 44-member delegation, stayed inside the Sufi saint’s mausoleum for 20 minutes where he offered a 42-square metre long red ‘chadar’ and floral tributes. Bilawal offered a green chadar. Chadar is a ceremonial cloth inscribed with religious verses.
A chadar was also offered by Union Minister Pawan Bansal on behalf of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Bansal, the minister-in-waiting for Zardari’s visit, prayed for peace and harmony.
“Is mukaddas mukam par akar mujhe jo ruhani khushi mehsus hui hai wo na kabie bayan hai. Alla tala se dua hai ki wo tamam insaniyat ke liye asaniya paida kare. Amin”( I feel a great spiritual happiness after coming to this holy place. It is beyond description. I pray to God to create favourable condition for the humanity. Amin,” Zardari wrote in the visitors’ book.
Zardari performed ‘fateha’ (supplication) and went around the premises comprising mosques, graves of the Khwaja’s disciples, a pool and two big cauldrons used for cooking food during the annual Urs. Pervez Musharraf and Zia-ul-Haq were the previous Pakistani Presidents to offer obeisance at the revered shrine.
The President landed at Ghugra helipad in Ajmer in a helicopter from Jaipur where a special aircraft carrying him and his delegation brought him from Delhi after a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who also hosted a lunch for him. The convoy then moved to the Dargah Sharif, 12.3 kms by road from the helipad.
Anjuman committee officials said the donation announced by Zardari was the biggest amount in recent years but it was not immediately known whether it was made in a personal capacity or in his capacity as President.
Outside the Nizam gate, the main entrance of the dargah, Zardari was welcomed by Sayed Natik Chisti, Anjuman committee secretary Sayed Wahid Chisti and its president Husamuddin Niyazi.
Sayed Natik Chisti, who had performed the ‘Ziyarat’ (prayer) when Musharraf had visited the shrine, performed the same for Zardari along with Syed Iqbal Kaptan Chisti who claimed to be the family khadim of late Prime Minister and Zardari’s slain wife Benazir Bhutto.
Zardari was presented two chadars for shrines in Pakistan—Baba Farid-ud-din Ganjshakar at Pakpattan near Lahore and Databaksh shrine in Lahore by a body of khadims (clerics).
A member of the Dargah staff removed the shoes of Zardari who then wore a special rexine socks and entered the shrine from the Nizam gate.
As soon as he stepped into the Dargah, he was welcomed by beating of drums as per traditions and customs of the shrine.
President of the Dargah committee Sohel Ahmad Khan and CEO Mohammd Afzal received them inside the shrine after his entry from the Nizam gate.
The delegation then proceeded towards the Aastana (shrine) after passing through Shahjahani gate, Buland darwaja, Sandali gate and Ahta-e-Noor (boundary of the main shrine).
Before getting into the shrine from Begami Dalan (main entrance of the shrine), he was introduced to shrine keys’ holders (baridar).
Inside the shrine, he offered a 42 sq m special chadar and paid obeisance.
After spending 20 minutes inside the shrine, he left from Payti darwaja and then honoured by the Anjuman committee at a turban tying ceremony.
He was also honoured by the Dargah committee at Buland darwaja before his departure to the helipad.
Tight security arrangements were in place for the visit and 1,600 police personnel guarded the entire area from the helipad to the Dargah.
The Dargar premises was evacuated after noon for the visit and only pass holders were allowed to stay inside the dargah during the visit of Zardari. (PTI)
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