Zardari’s message: Smiles first, business later
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari will not be discussing Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed’s case with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when they meet in New Delhi on Sunday but building economic ties and forging links for a future partnership will be high on the agenda revealed close aides.
“The President is going to Ajmer for ziarat (pilgrimage) and not for structured official talks,” Mr Zardari’s spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar told this newspaper.
Asked if Hafiz Saeed will be touched on at all, Senator Babar said, “We can’t stop Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from bringing up the subject, but no decisions are expected in this meeting”.
“When two leaders meet they will definitely discuss politics. But there is a difference between official talks and informal interaction. We would like to see the meeting lay the foundation for talks in the future that will attempt to solve major differences”, the presidential spokesman said.
On acting against Hafiz Saeed, Senator Babar said “We need evidence to act against Hafiz Saeed. We just can’t arrest him because somebody wants us to. Hafiz Saeed was actually detained some months ago but was released by the court for want of evidence.”
“The government has asked for strong evidence from those who demand his arrest. The evidence against him must stand judicial scrutiny”.
But throwing a tiny crumb to India he also said, “ We are against terrorism and will not provide shelter to any terrorist.”
The US move to offer a $10 m bounty for Saeed’s head without talking to Pakistan first has not gone down well. “US should have contacted Pakistan before announcing the bounty on Hafiz Saeed”, said the Senator.
As far as the meeting between President Zardari and Prime Minister Singh, the “Pakistan president will meet him with an open heart and mind. We want peace with India and have worked on this. President Zardari will send a message of love”.
The presidential spokesman said that the Zardari-Singh meeting will definitely lay the foundation for future interaction and talks. “This will give warmth to the relations. Even if they do not discuss main issues, their smiles should give a strong message.”
“The PPP (Pakistan People’s Party) government has not compromised on the Kashmir issue and wants the solution to the issue. That does not mean lack of progress on Kashmir holds us back from moving forward on other sectors. We want trade to flourish and enhancement of people-to-people contacts”, said Senator Babar.
“The economy is the top priority because both the governments would like improvement in the life of the common man. We want to work on all sectors simultaneously”, he said.
“We are people-to-people contact and will of course want road links. Any road link between Ajmer and Sindh would not be a bad idea”, the spokesman said.
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