India has set aside Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s request for an appointment with Congress President Sonia Gandhi, with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) officials viewing it as “out of line” with protocol, Indian media reported on Thursday. However, a confirmation is still awaited on his requests for a meeting with Indian PM Manmohan Singh and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj. Officials in the Indian government said the MEA decided against even forwarding Malik’s request to the Congress president’s office. Though a meeting with the PM was yet to be scheduled, sources indicated that it may be a mere courtesy call. Incidentally, Malik has not sought a visit to either Ajmer Sharief or Agra during his visit from December 14 to 16. Malik had, during his talks with Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde in Rome, expressed his desire to visit the Ajmer shrine and Taj Mahal. Sources indicated that the Pakistani side may be wary of negative publicity over Malik’s trip to tourist destinations in India, when no credible action had been taken against 26/11 perpetrators based in Pakistan. Sources, however, said, a visit to Agra, if sought later, could be arranged at a short notice. Per Malik’s itinerary, he will arrive at around 2pm on December 14 with a 15-member delegation. Bilateral talks with Shinde are tentatively scheduled for 5pm, after which they are likely to release a joint statement, possibly at a joint press conference around 7pm. The presser will be followed by an official dinner in Malik’s honour. An MHA official, however, indicated that there was a possibility of bilateral talks spilling over to December 15 as well. The new Indo-Pakistan visa regime will be operationalised during Malik’s visit. The bilateral talks will cover a host of issues like action in the 26/11 case by Islamabad, proposal for an MHA visit to Pakistan and pending red-corner notices. Malik may meet the PM and Swaraj on December 15.
