Dawood Ibrahim will figure each time during Indo-Pak talks on terror: Ex-RAW chief

Islamabad, Oct 13: Former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri who was in India had blamed L K Advani for the break down of the Agra summit.

He went on to suggest that Pakistan had come with genuine intentions at striking peace, but it was the then Home Minister Advani's insistence of asking for Dawood that destroyed the peace talks.

The question is did the Agra summit break down because of the demand made by Advani regarding Dawood Ibrahim. C D Sahay the former Chief of Research and Analysis Wing feels that it is not correct what the former foreign minister of Pakistan has said.

Sahay tells OneIndia that it is a fragile argument and to say that the talks failed due to this reason is not right.

What Kasuri said:

Kasuri had said that there was durable peace during that period and it was the best opportunity to resolve the border dispute.

However, when Pakistan came with an open mind and addresses of terrorists in Kashmir, it was Advani who raised the Dawood issue.

This destroyed the Agra summit, he also went on to say. Kasuri also said that in the absence of dialogue between India and Pakistan it is the radical radical elements have begun to dominate the narrative on both sides.

What is wrong in India asking for Dawood Ibrahim?

Sahay says that the entire world is aware that Dawood Ibrahim is in Pakistan. He has several red corner alerts issued against him by the Interpol and even the United States of America has declared him a global terrorist.

Sahay says that when talks are focused on terrorism, the Dawood Ibrahim issue automatically will crop up. When India and Pakistan discuss terror each and every aspect relating to the subject will come up and Dawood Ibrahim is part of that terrorist network.

India has asked for Dawood in the same breath that we would ask them for a Hafiz Saeed or Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi.

Pakistan always stone walls the Dawood demand:

Sahay adds that whenever there has been a demand for the handing over of Dawood Ibrahim, Pakistan has always stone walled the issue. When India makes this demand, it is with proof.

There have been instances when Dawood has been shifted out just before the talks so that there can be complete denial on the matter.

We have all the details on him right from his addresses to his passports. When we ask for Dawood, the demand is made with proof and not hearsay.

We have always asked for Dawood so that he can be tried for his crimes in India. We will continue to ask for him. If Kasuri feels that the talks of such importance can break down over the Dawood issue, then it is a completely wrong thing to say.

Moreover, the Dawood issue always comes up when the talks are circled round the issue of terrorism. How can there be talks on terror with Pakistan without the Dawood issue coming up?

The way Kasuri has made it sound is that the talks were confrontational. The demands that are made in such matters is never confrontational, but raised politely and with utmost dignity.

It is not as though a war breaks out when demands are made. I say this because the talks did not fail because the issue of Dawood was raised says Sahay.

OneIndia News