India's views on terror successfully put across at SAARC meet, says Vikas Swarup

NEW DELHI: India was "successful" in putting across its views on terrorism and drug trafficking at the SAARC ministerial meet in Islamabad yesterday which was attended by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, the External Affairs Ministry said today.

Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup also hit out at Pakistan, saying its "restrictive approach" of not issuing visas to journalists to cover Rajnath's visit is not helpful in promoting close ties between SAARC countries.

Asked if India thinks Home Minister's visit to Islamabad was successful given the chill in Indo-Pak ties, Swarup said this was a multilateral event during which there are important issues to discuss and deliberate upon including cross border terrorism, drug trafficking and fake currency notes.

"Our side was definitely successful in putting across our views on all these important matters and how it is important for SAARC to have a united approach," he asserted while referring to Rajnath's speech.

Rajnath had said mere condemnation of terrorism and terrorists was not enough and that there were "no good terrorists or bad terrorists", in an apparent attack on Pakistan.

Swarup also contradicted reports of a 'blackout' of Rajnath's speech, saying as per SAARC protocol, the opening statement by the host country is public and open to the media while the rest of the proceedings are in camera, which allows for a full and frank discussion of issues.

"The point at issue is that the media that accompanied Hon'ble Home Minister was not in the room and a number of you who had applied for visas did not get visas. Naturally this restrictive approach by Pakistan even for a multilateral event is not helpful in promoting close ties between SAARC countries," Swarup said.