Violence in Kashmir 'open terrorism': Pakistan Interior Minister at SAARC meet

Raising the Kashmir issue at the SAARC meeting, Pakistan's Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Thursday alleged that the violence being committed in Kashmir is "open terrorism".

Addressing the one-day Interior/Home Ministers Conference of SAARC countries, Khan equated the use of force by Indian security forces with "terrorism". There is a difference between fighting for freedom and terrorism, he was quoted as saying by local media.

"The violence being committed against the innocent people" of Kashmir is "open terrorism", he said, speaking extempore.

Local media reports said that it seemed Khan decided to ignore the written notes in order to respond to the speech of Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who without naming Pakistan lambasted it for supporting terrorism.

The Express News reported that Khan left his seat of the speaker to address all issues point by point raised by the home ministers of the member countries.

"We have always wished to work in close cooperation with all our neighbours and we believe all pending issues can be addressed through dialogue," he said.

Khan said Pakistan suffered heavy losses in the fight against terrorism and the country condemned every single incident of terror which claimed innocent lives. The SAARC group includes India, Pakistan, Nepal, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.