Indo-Pak matters have to be resolved bilaterally: MEA

MHA coming up with a new social media policy

23/06/2017

New Delhi, Jun 22: India today affirmed that bilateral issues between India and Pakistan will have to be decided "bilaterally", reacting to suggestions by UN chief Antonio Guteress that he is engaged in bringing about a dialogue between the two neighbours.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Bagley told reporters he was aware of the remarks made by Guteress that he has raised the issue during his meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif.
"I have seen the reply which has been reported in the media. Essentially the secretary general asked a question in response to a question... Bilateral issues have to be decided bilaterally and the UN secretary general has been made aware of that position," Bagley said.
Addressing reporters at his first press conference at the world body's headquarters since assuming office in January, Guterres recently said that he is engaged in bringing about a dialogue between India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue.
"Why do you think I met three times the Prime Minister of Pakistan and two times the Prime Minister of India," Guterres said with a laughter, responding to a question on whether he is involved in the matter.
The government is finalising a policy which is aimed at keeping a hawk's eye vigil on the social media to check if it is being "misused" to conspire against India and spread anti-national propaganda.
A meeting was held today among representatives of central security agencies and the home ministry to discuss various issues related to it, officials sources said.
At present, there is only a set of "do's and don'ts" for the social media which needs to be graduated to a full-fledged guidelines that should be adopted on such a network.
The move assumes significance as there have been instances where terrorists were found to be using social media to conspire against the country or to propagate anti-India materials.
There have also been instances where rumours spread on the social media had resulted in violence and tense situation in different parts of the country.
The misuse of social media is more challenging especially with reference to the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, they said.
The stake holders are discussing ways to finalise a policy to help intelligence agencies and security forces effectively deal with any propaganda, the sources said.
The infrastructure requirements like manpower and technological needs for monitoring of the social media are also being finalised, they said.
Besides this, the ministry is also looking for the ways to reach out to people using social media in case of disaster or for public service delivery, they added.
Deepening bilateral trade and economic ties will be one of the key focus areas of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the US where he will hold talks with President Donald Trump on June 26 in their first meeting.
A number of key issues, including ways to step up cooperation for effectively combating terrorism and further strengthening defence ties, are also likely to figure during the talks between the two leaders.
Modi will visit the US on June 25 and 26 as part of a three-nation tour beginning Saturday.
"One of the agendas of the visit is how to further push and develop economic and commercial cooperation between the two countries for mutual benefit," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gopal Baglay said when asked about the focus of the Modi-Trump meeting.
Refusing to give further details, he said all matters of bilateral interests will be on the table, adding, "The leaders will have an entire gamut of relationship in front of them when they talk."
Asked whether incidents of alleged racial attacks will be raised by the prime minister with the US president, Baglay said not all attacks were racial.
"Whenever there have been attacks on Indians because of some reason or the other, we have seen that they have been condemned very strongly by the US government," he said.
The MEA spokesperson said the Indo-US relationship has been very robust and strong and thrust would be to take it further.
Asked whether Modi will raise with Trump the issue of cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan, Baglay said India's concerns regarding it are very well known and that it was logical to assume that matters relating to regional and global security will be discussed.
"Terrorism that emanates from there (Pakistan) affects not only India, but other countries in South Asia and the world over," he said.
"We do talk to our friends and partners on how to counter terrorism, cross-border terrorism and international terrorism," he said.
On whether India will apprise the US about its concerns over the US military aid to Pakistan being diverted for anti- Indiaactivities, Baglay did not give a direct reply, but said such concerns have been conveyed whenever there has been an occasion.
To a query on how preparations for the Modi-Trump meeting were going on considering the US leader's "maverick nature", Baglay only said, "I dont agree with your description of the president."
The MEA spokesperson said Modi will meet CEOs of top US companies and senior representatives from the business community on June 25. There will be an Indian community event in the afternoon of that day as well.
On Modi's meeting with the CEOs, he said discussions are expected on giving further fillip to trade and investment.
Modi would visit Portugal on June 24 and the Netherlands on June 27.

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