JOURNALIST: Mr. Ambassador, India has arrested Pakistan’s Senior Defense Envoy in New Delhi Brigadier Zahir-Ul-Islam Abbasi on charges of spying and instantly deported him along with his assistant.
AMBASSADOR: That’s Right.
JOURNALIST: Mr. Abbasi, however, has charged that he was victim of a frame-up by the Indian Government which was looking for an excuse to cancel Rajiv Gandhi’s scheduled visit to Pakistan later this month.
AMBASSADOR: Very Correct.
JOURNALIST: Why do you think Rajiv is reluctant to go to Pakistan? Is it because of India’s suspected hand in the sabotage of Zia’s aircraft?
AMBASSADOR: Not in National Interest to disclose.
JOURNALIST; Mr. Ambassador senior officials of Sri Lanka are threatening to resign because of the pressure both from the rebels and the security forces.
AMBASSADOR: That’s Right.
JOURNALIST: The rebels are agitating for the scrapping of the
Accord signed with India and with drawal ‘of 50,000 strong Indian troops from Sri Lanka’s soil.
AMBASSADOR: Very Correct.
JOURNALIST: How does Rajiv Gandhi propose to deal with the rebels? Will he order his “peace” keeping force to declare war against them as he has done in the case of Tamils?
AMBASSADOR: Not in National Interest to disclose.
JOURNALIST: Mr., Ambassador, Buta Singh has reportedly invited the Akali leaders for talks to resolve the Punjab problem.
AMBASSADOR: That’s Right.
JOURNALIST; But before starting the talks, he wants Akalis to dissociate themselves from the movement for Khalistan and condemn what he calls “terrorism.”
AMBASSADOR: Very Correct.
JOURNALIST: What do you think Buta Singh will gain by flogging dead horses? Is he looking for another Barnala to fight the militants by proxy?
AMBASSADOR: Not in National Interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 9, 1988
