Pak's 'restrictive approach' not helpful in promoting closer ties: MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said denying media coverage of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's speech at the SAARC meeting in Islamabad is not helpful in promoting closer ties between countries of the region.

The Home Minister, said in Rajya Sabha today, that Indian journalists accompanying him were not allowed to cover his speech at the summit, but added that he was not aware of the protocol norms followed during previous events.

"Where is the contradiction between what was put out yesterday and what the Home Minister has said today. The point is that the media that accompanied the Home minister was not in the room and a number of you who had applied for visas did not get visas. Naturally, this restrictive approach by Pakistan even for a multilateral event is not helpful in promoting closer ties between SAARC countries," MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup told the media here.

"There is no contradiction between what was said by the Home Minister in Parliament today and what is the general understanding of SAARC practices," he added.

During his speech at the SAARC meet in Islamabad, Rajnath Singh made veiled comments against Pakistan, saying mere condemnation of terrorism was not enough.

He categorically stated that there are no good or bad terrorists. Singh said strongest action should be initiated not only against terrorists but also against organisations, individuals and nations supporting terror.