Kasab is a terrorist - he should go to gallows !!!

“Ajmal Kasab is a terrorist.  He should go to gallows,” – an absolutely factual statement – yet there could be opposition with some moderating that there should be due process of Law and Kasab would get all avenues of legal protection – the State would end up spending crores in keeping alive the criminal who killed hundreds of Indians and challenged the Nation. 

Can you imagine who made this daring statement that has caught the headlines ? 

Not much is expected to happen in the 17^th summit of SAARC being held at Maldives.  The little known Addu city in the southernmost atoll of  the Maldives is the place where the meeting is held.  The islands of this region are connected with each through roads.  The total population of Addu is reportedly less than 30000.   The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) comprises eight member states (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri-Lanka) .The SAARC was established in  December 1985. SAARC is a manifestation of the determination of the people of the South Asia to work together in a sprit of friendship, trust and understanding and to create an order based on mutual respect, equity and shared benefits.

At Maldives,  declared  Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik that Kasab is a terrorist and that the proposed visit of a Judicial Commission to India will help quicken the trial of 26/11 accused in his country.  “Kasab is a terrorist. He is a non-state actor. He should go to gallows,” Mr. Malik told Indian journalists here as Prime Ministers of the two countries were meeting to review bilateral ties.

Senator A. Rehman Malik is a seaoned Pakistani politician, member of the Senate of Pakistan, and the current Interior Minister of Pakistan under the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani administration. Malik is a former Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) intelligence officer who rose to head the FIA during Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's second tenure. He later joined the Pakistan Peoples Party and was the trusted lieutenant and chief security officer (CSO) of Benazir Bhutto.  Mr. Malik said that Pakistan Government was awaiting a visit of the Judicial Commission to India and get some evidence that will help in prosecuting the accused in his country if we have “credible evidence.”  “Once that Commission will go to India, its findings are important for the judicial process in Pakistan. When the findings are there, they will be covering all the legal sides.    He reiterated Pakistan’s stand that it was not aware of Osama bin Laden’s presence in the country. He said bin Laden was trained by intelligence agencies like CIA and ISI and he knew how to hide.

Meantime, Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan met on the sidelines of a meeting of the SAARC Council of Ministers here on 9^th Nov 11,  a day ahead of the meeting between the Prime Ministers of the two countries.   There was the meet of Foreign Secretaries also.  There was also a 30-minute meeting between Indian  External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and his Pakistan counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar.

The founding members of SAARC are :  Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan joined the organization in 2005. Meetings of heads of state are usually scheduled annually; meetings of foreign secretaries, twice annually.

During the Cricket WC 2011 in March, the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Pak counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani met at the avenue.  After passage of months, they are meeting at Maldives at the 17th annual South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit.  Dr Singh and Mr Gilani are  to hold  a 90-minute meeting, which will be followed by statements to the press.

With regards

S. Sampathkumar.