Condemn ink attack on Kulkarni, want good relations with India: Kasuri

Condemning the ink attack on Sudheendra Kulkarni by Shiv Sena, former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri on Monday said that he is not depressed by such events as he is aware that there are people in both the countries who do not want good relations between India and Pakistan.

"I am not depressed by things like these as I know there are people in Pakistan and India who do not want good relations between the two nations. I have been a political worker myself, I understand political protests, but it should be in a peaceful manner," Kasuri told the media here.

"They have a right to protest, as long as it is been done in a peaceful manner," he added.

He stressed that an overwhelming majority of people in Pakistan want good relations with India, "Ordinary people in Pakistan want good relations with India."

Observer Research Foundation (ORF) chairman Kulkarni, who was attacked with ink, hours before the book launch of 'Neither a Hawk nor a Dove: An Insider's Account of Pakistan's Foreign Policy', said that the event would take place despite 'typical' threats from the Shiv Sena.

"Thanks to Kasuri ji for accepting our invitation and coming to Mumbai even though there were indications that some forces wanted to stop him. They (Shiv Sena) had already given threats in their typical style that they would disrupt the programme," Kulkarni told the media here.

"Those forces have actually threatened the organizers of Ghulam Ali ji's concert and succeeded in getting that concert called off. However, the event is going to take place at 5:30 p.m. at Nehru Centre, despite of threats we've received from Shiv Sena," he added.

The Shiv Sena has been vehemently protesting against the launch of Kasuri's book, saying it was an insult to the Indian soldiers who had died in the recent ceasefire violations by Pakistan and had warned that there would be 'repercussions' if the event is not cancelled.