In Islamabad, Hizb chief Salahudeen protests against Rajnath's visit

Islamabad, Aug. 3 (ANI): Syed Salahudeen, one of the most wanted terrorists in the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) list and chief of united Jihad Council, on Wednesday took to the streets in Islamabad, protesting against the visit of Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who landed here to attend the seventh SAARC Home Ministers' conference, raising a serious question on Singh's security. Holding Singh responsible for the killings of his area commander Burhan Wani and Kashmiri protesters, Salahudeen, also head of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, criticised the Pakistan Government for welcoming the Indian Home Minister. "It amounts to rubbing salt on the wounds of the Kashmiri people," he said. He, however, warned that until the Kashmir Valley was free from the presence of Indian forces, jihad in Kashmir would continue. The Home Minister, in his speech at the two-day meeting, is expected to raise the issue of Pakistan's support to terror groups operating in India and ask Islamabad to check Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and other groups based in that country. Singh is also likely to raise the issue of fake Indian currency notes being circulated at the behest of Pakistani agencies. Apart from terrorism, other key issues likely to be discussed include liberalisation of visa, illegal trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and small arms and how to make coordinated and concerted efforts to combat such menace. The External Affairs Ministry has made it clear that there will be no bilateral meeting between the Home Minister and Pakistani leaders. The visit comes in the backdrop of growing strain in the Indo-Pak ties after Pakistan and its Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made provocative statements on the Kashmir situation in the wake of a militant's killing on the 8th of last month. The Home Minister will return to New Delhi tomorrow after the meeting. (ANI)