New Delhi, Dec 30: Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday said that Palestine has conveyed regrets over its ambassador’s presence at an event attended by international terrorist and mastermind of 26/11 Mumbai attacks Hafiz Saeed. In a statement, MEA said that India conveyed to Palestine that “such meetings of its ambassador with terrorists is not acceptable”. The statement added that India expressed its unhappiness to Palestinian Ambassador and in Ramallah to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, State of Palestine.
The presence of Palestine’s ambassador to Pakistan at an event in Rawalpindi on December 29 was vehemently criticised. Saeed, the global terrorist carries a bounty of 10 million USD (approx. Rs 66 crore) and continues to exercise a lot of influence in religious circles.
Full Text of India’s statement
Government of India has strongly conveyed to the Palestinian side that the Palestinian Ambassador in Pakistan’s association with terrorist Hafiz Saeed, who is prescribed by the United Nations, at an event in Rawalpindi on 29.12.2017, is unacceptable. The concerns were conveyed both in New Delhi to the Palestinian Ambassador and in Ramallah to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, State of Palestine.
The Palestinian side has conveyed deep regrets over the incident and assured the Government of India that they are taking serious cognizance of their Ambassador’s presence at this event. They have said they will deal with this matter appropriately. It was also conveyed that Palestine highly values its relationship with India and stands with us in the war against terrorism, and will not engage with those who commit acts of terror against India.
We take note of the assurances given by the Palestine side.