What Sushma Swaraj told Pakistani columnist Mehr Tarar about 2 missing Nizamuddin clerics

NEW DELHI: Well known Pakistani columnist Mehr Tarar assured minister Sushma Swaraj that "Pakistanis in general" revere Sufis and the "safe return" of the two missing Nizamuddin clerics is the responsibility of her country.

To which Swaraj replied saying she hoped "Pakistan shares your (Tarar's) feelings".

Tarar tweeted yesterday that she met one of the missing clerics from the Nizamuddin Dargah in Delhi last year, and that "Pakistanis in general hold all Sufi descendants in high esteem."

I met one of these gentlemen at the Nizamuddin dargah in Delhi last year. Pakistanis in general hold all Sufi descendants in high esteem. https://t.co/GACupEbsDn

— Mehr Tarar (@MehrTarar) March 17, 2017

I hope Government of Pakistan shares your feelings and helps in locating them. https://t.co/NK2hVVqzLe

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) March 17, 2017

To Swaraj's reply, Tarar said that as the clerics were guests in Pakistan, "their safe return is our responsibility", and that she is "certain they will be home soon".

Thank you, Ma'am Minister; I'm certain they will be home soon. They are our very respected guests, & their safe return is our responsibility https://t.co/TqJS7n4Tb5

— Mehr Tarar (@MehrTarar) March 17, 2017

The Sufi clerics went to Pakistan on March 8. They reportedly went missing from Lahore airport, from where they were scheduled to fly to Karachi a few days ago.

Minister Swaraj hinted yesterday hinted that Pakistan's spy agency ISI may have abducted the two custodians of Delhi's Nizamuddin Dargah. She said the Pakistani "hosts" of the khadims were "under pressure not to speak to the Indian

We have also contacted their host in Karachi who appears to be under pressure not to speak to the Indian High Commission. /3 #Nizamuddin

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) March 17, 2017

Hinting at official intimidation, Swaraj also pointed to a widely held suspicion in India's official circles that this was no random abduction.