Dubai: India has asked Saudi Arabia to persuade Pakistan to shun the path of
terrorism and pursue dialogue and moderation to settle its unresolved disputes with
New Delhi.
Asserting that Pakistan-backed terrorism was an integral part of the global pattern
of religion-based violence, which was bringing a bad name to Muslims, Union Civil
Aviation Minister Shahnawaz Hussain urged the Saudi government to use
its "influence" to persuade Pakistan to give up terrorism.
Hussain, who is leading a goodwill Haj delegation, made the request during a meeting
with the Kingdom's Interior Minister Prince Naif bin Abdul Aziz in Mecca on February
12.
India was committed to peace and dialogue to sort out differences with Pakistan, he
said, charging Islamabad with funding terrorist violence aimed at creating communal
disharmony in the country, which has the second largest population of Muslims in the
world.
During the meeting, which lasted for an hour and a half, Prince Naif accepted an
invitation from Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani to visit India to sign a memorandum
of understanding (MoU) on combating crime, money laundering and terrorism, which has
been negotiated and is awaiting signature.
Hussain also sought an assurance from the Arabian government on the safety of
Indians there and in the neighbouring Kuwait in the event of a war against Iraq.
PTI
