Pakistan on Thursday sidestepped questions on Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde’s allegations of ‘Hindu terrorism’ but reiterated its demand that it kept in the loop on the Samjhauta Express blast, in which over 40 Pakistanis were killed.
Asked if, in the light of Mr. Shinde’s remarks, Pakistan believed that there were “safe havens” in India for terrorists targeting Indian Muslims, Foreign Office spokesman Moazzam Khan said: “We have noted these statements with concern. We, being a responsible country, do not want to get into speculative mode. However, we do expect them to do what a responsible country would do in such a situation.”
Referring to the Samjhauta blast, in which Indian investigations have traced the role of some Hindutva organisations, Mr. Khan said: “Pakistan has repeatedly said that we want a thorough investigation and want the investigation to be shared with Pakistan, and whosoever are the perpetrators or culprits should be punished in accordance with the law.”
