ISLAMABAD - Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said Thursday that Indian media was spreading baseless propaganda by laying blame of the situation in Afghanistan on the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the country’s premier intelligence agency.
Addressing a gathering here after inaugurating the new building of Noon Police Station in Islamabad, the minister said that India and its media were in the “state of mourning” following the developments talking pace in Afghanistan before and after takeover of Kabul by the Taliban on August 15.
“ISI is Pakistan’s national institution and we are not involved in any matter in Afghanistan,” he stressed. He added that every child of the nation is proud of Pakistan’s all institutions including Pak Army, ISI and Military Intelligence (MI) because they have worked tiredly to serve the country.
Sheikh Rashid went on to say that India’s Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) and Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS) have ruined after all their “investments” have gone into waste in the war-torn Afghanistan. The interior minister informed that the government was mulling over closing the Chaman border crossing temporarily due to some security threats.
“We may close Chaman border today (Thursday) for some time due to some threats,” he said. I have spoken to FC in the wake of these threats, following which the authorities dealing with the border management could decide to close the border; he said adding that this border crossing was also closed in the past.
He, however, insisted that the situation at the Torkham border crossing was “normal” and at least 4000 people from Afghanistan have entered Pakistan and 2000 returned through the crossing since August 15.
The minister further said that country’s borders were secure as Pakistan Army was deployed there and all law enforcement agencies were keeping a check on movement along the border.
He said that Pakistan wanted complete peace in Afghanistan.
The interior minister hoped that Islamabad Police would fulfil its responsibilities in provision of security to the people of the city as “the whole world has its eyes” on Islamabad. Sheikh Rashid said he had asked the Islamabad police chief to increase strength of its Eagle Squad and it should be enhanced from existing 150 motorcycles to 400 as it should have presence everywhere. “But people should not be harassed unnecessarily,” the minister added.
Responding to a question regarding proposal of PML-N leader and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif for the formation of a national government, the interior minister said that this was a “dream that would never come true.” He insisted that opposition would have to talk with the government and latter’s doors are opened for this purpose. Talking on the opposition’s planned long march towards the capital; Sheikh Rashid said that the time was not feasible for such an activity due to the evolving regional situation. It is the time to sit together and take forward the country, he said. He also said that “no one would be allowed to create crisis in the country at any cost because these days were important for the country since August 15.” “If the opposition was determined with their plan, then the law will take its course.”
The minister denied the presence of any American nationals in Pakistan and said those who had arrived from Afghanistan have returned via the port. “We have allowed (entry into Pakistan) to 600 Japanese today and also permitted the under-19 team of Afghanistan,” he said. He further said that if anyone else sought entry into Pakistan from Afghanistan, he would be granted 21-day transit visa.
He also paid tributes to late Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Geelani and said that he would live in the hearts of people forever for his struggle for Indian Occupied Kashmir’s right to self-determination.