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'India aims to bully down Pakistan and other neighbours'

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan High Commissioner to London Professor Akbar S Ahmed has said Pakistan is victim of India's propaganda onslaught and its media is constantly attempting to label Pakistan as a terrorist state.

India has far greater capability in media than Pakistan and India's attempts to label Pakistan as a terrorist state is part of its propaganda campaign, he told BBC television.

Prof Ahmed said, this media campaign against Pakistan has to end if India is serious about resumption of dialogue and the reign of terror it unleashed in held Kashmir.

To a question, the High Commissioner said that only ordinary civilians are pushing ahead the on-going freedom movement in occupied Kashmir.

He said, Pakistan is standing up against India for its survival because it (India) wants to bully Pakistan down and other neighbours including Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Sikkim and Nepal have suffered at the hands of India.

He said should realise its responsibility and live with its neighbours in peace.

Pakistan, he added, has never supported terrorism and its position is very clear on this.

The symmetry between India and Pakistan is not correct. It has to be a certain balance and certain mutual respect between the two countries.

The High Commissioner categorically rejected the Indian claim of high level militant activities in held Kashmir since Gen Musharraf came to power. In fact, the Chief Executive, after taking power, pulled back Army from the international border as goodwill gesture, but India in response got cancelled SAARC meeting.

He stressed the need of serious attempts for the resumption of talks from New Delhi adding, "The time has come, we have to move forward," he added.

Prof Ahmed said, US President Bill Clinton is very concerned about India and Pakistan as well as Kashmir. He is expected to visit South Asia and it would be a great moment when he would make both India and Pakistan to sit togetwher for talks. APP