Want better Indo-Pak ties? Indian Media, stop 'bashing' Pak

New Delhi, Jan 18:

media faced the wrath of Pakistani establishment as it accused Indian journalists of engaging in "Pakistan bashing". In the wake of recent escalation of tension between India and Pakistan, few Indian media houses engaged itself in unrestrained Pakistan bashing.

Hinting towards Indian media's negative approach towards Pakistan, Pakistan High Commissioner to India, Salman Bashir, told in an interview that "I must say Pakistan bashing has become fashionable in India whenever there is an issue," adding, "we should get out of this mode."

Pakistani politicians and bureaucrats have also criticised few Indian politicians and media for engaging in strong words against Pakistan. Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said that they (Pakistani leaders) were saddened and disappointed at continued negative statements emanating from both Indian media and few politicians against them.

"Pakistan and India are both important countries of South Asia. It is imperative that they demonstrate requisite responsibility for ensuring peace by addressing all concerns through dialogue. Rhetoric and ratcheting up of tensions is certainly counterproductive. We are saddened and disappointed at the continued negative statements emanating from India both from the media as well as certain Indian leaders. For its part, Pakistan has observed a measured and deliberate self-restraint in our public statements on India. This has been done keeping in view the interest of peace in the region," said Khar.

"Instead of issuing belligerent statements by the military and political leaders from across the border and ratcheting up tension, it is advisable for the two countries to discuss all concerns related to the Line of Control (LoC) with a view to reinforcing respect for the ceasefire, may be at the level of the foreign ministers to sort out things," Khar said in a statement from New York.

Bashir said it is in the mutual interest of both the nations to go ahead with the offer of talks made by Pakistan. Bashir condemned the mutilation of the bodies of the two Indian soldiers but denied Pakistan's role in the killing.

OneIndia News