Talking tough to Pakistan in his first reaction to the recent tensions along the LoC, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said it could not be business as usual with Islamabad following the “barbaric beheading” of an Indian soldier.
India on Tuesday also put on hold the visa-on-arrival facility and sent home all nine Pakistani hockey players who were in India taking part in the hockey league.
The move followed brewing anger among Indian political parties over the January 8 incident when Pakistani soldiers allegedly crossed the LoC in Mendhar area of Jammu and Kashmir and killing two soldiers.
In the first public statement on the issue, Singh justified the decision to suspend visa facility, saying “after this barbaric act, there cannot be business as usual with Pakistan”.
He said, “Those responsible for this crime will have to be brought to book” and hoped “Pakistan realises this”.
When asked if Pakistan was in a denial mode on the cross-LoC attack, Singh said, “We will keep trying.”
Pressed for options, the PM said they could not be discussed in the open.
Singh later met President Pranab Mukherjee and briefed him on the situation.
He also deputed National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon to brief Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley.
VISA PUT ON HOLD:
India was to operationalise the long-delayed visa-on-arrival facility to senior citizens of Pakistan on Tuesday, but quietly put it on hold indefinitely.
The facility was to be accorded for those above 65 years crossing the Attari-Wagah border by foot.
Indian government sources said the decision was taken after several agencies sought clarifications on facilities to be offered to Pakistani citizens.
The visa-on-arrival facility under the new visa agreement between India and Pakistan signed in September 2012 was to ease cross-border travel as part of confidence building measures.
No new date has been fixed for making operational the visa-on-arrival facility.
“We will take a decision at an appropriate time,” Union Home Secretary RK Singh said.
The simmering border tension also spilled over to the sporting arena with a rattled Hockey India deciding to send back all nine Pakistani players taking part in its high-profile league.
With an apparent nudge from the government and in the midst of threatened protests by right-wing elements, Hockey India took the decision to send back the Pakistani players considering the “extraordinary circumstances”.
“After discussion with all the stakeholders, the Hockey India and Pakistan Hockey Federation have mutually decided to send them (Pakistan players) back due to an extraordinary situation which has arisen,” Hockey India Secretary General Narinder Batra told reporters.
Cricket was also not spared. Fearing trouble due to Pakistani players’ presence in the upcoming Women’s World Cup in the city, the BCCI has left it on the International Cricket Council to take a final call on the venues for the team from across the border.
The matter was discussed at the board’s all-powerful Working Committee and it was decided to convey to the ICC the situation prevailing in the country.
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said India had taken a “very firm position” on the beheading issue with Pakistan as the act was “totally unacceptable and barbaric”.
Referring to yesterday’s Flag Meeting between India and Pakistan, he said, “We may not be happy with the outcome but the process is still on.”
He indicated that engagement with Pakistan would be impacted although there would be no total freeze.
Asked whether India had set any timeline for Pakistan to act, Khurshid said, “There is no timeline. But we are actually pressing (Pakistan) very hard.”
Thank you our nation want same with your country as well.
Thank God India soon realised that Pakistan is not worth having a business or any other kind of relationship. Pakistan is a failed state and will not worth a penny of time. India should work with economies better than themselves rathar wasting time with an evil muslim state.
Please do not worry whether we are passed or failed state. We will not ask for your time. Why we should ask to date with you. I am too busy in my own affair. We have Mr Qadri now a days in Pakistan. He has come all the way almost eight thousand miles away from Canada, to produce revolution in Pakistan but he likes to live in Canada.He pays his taxes in Canada and built his assets in Canada too but like to produce revolution in Pakistan. Can you give me example of any Indian like this?you think we are failed state. No ,please you can not compete with us.
I just read the news that Indian govt suspended the policy of visa on arrival at Wagah border to people older than 65 yrs.In Pakistan the average age is 63 yrs. so that means half of the population has already migrated from this world and having good time in the next world.Out of rest of the people, why we should go to visit India. If a 65 yrs old Pakistani wants to visit India to see any older relative, that guy must be close to ninty or 100 yrs old. I know average age in India is not 90 yrs. so I do not see any need for this kind of visa or going to India.
If I want to go abroad, I may go to Dubai or London . But with Mr Qadri in town, I do not feel the need to go to next town. With so much fun going on locally, who cares about India.By the way ,thanks for writing your notes about Pakistan.
Do you really believe we are failed state?Try to visit Pakistan sometime and see it yourself. You might like to migrate Pakistan after falling in love with these people.
Thanks for reading my note.
@SHB,you are what I call an idiot Pakistani,its because of people like you why Pakistan is so far behind.No thanks to idiots like you,thousands of hard working,educated,deserving Pakistani men and women are unable to find jobs in Pakistan and abroad.Stop your stupidity and ignorance about this Qadri,where was he all these years,you said it yourself,he is a Canadian national,he pays his taxes in Canada yet he shows up in time for the elections in Pakistan and acts like he gives a s**t about Pakistan and the people of Pakistan.And idiots like you jump on the idea.You shouldn't be commenting,you ain't no smarter then that idiot chick.You too should get a life
Amy,is that your real name LOL ??? First you should get educated on the issue,then you should learn english,then you should learn to write english,when you get all this done,get a life.You are too stupid so I won't waste my time commenting on your moronic comment.Regards, A MUSLIM AND A PAKISTANI
This is in response to Mr Desi
Please read my previous comment again. Then after that read it three times a day till you understand it. If hou still do not understand then see the Shrink,he can help you better than me. Thanks for reading this comment.
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The timing of LOC conflict, Qadri, CJ's Raja arrest are too synchronized …
The line-up of the elements are too perfect to be coincidental …
Khakis' are spookily silent now (this is a signature act) …
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Another bout of military rule (coming) ???
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