COLD VIBES: Nawaz Sharif with Home Minister Rajnath Singh at the inaugural session of SAARC meet in Islamabad. PTI

Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 4

India did some hard talking at the SAARC Home Ministers’ Conference in Islamabad today, without mentioning Pakistan, and bluntly raised the issue of terrorism and that of justice to the victims of the Mumbai and Pathankot attacks. There were no bilateral talks and sources privy to the developments said Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit was not expected to lead to any kind of thaw in the India-Pakistan relations. Editorial: Another SAARC farceIn his speech, Singh talked about terrorism striking Pathankot, Dhaka and Kabul, thus ensuring that the highlight was on the SAARC region and not just India. He pointed out that “terrorism remains the biggest challenge and threat to our peace. South Asia continues to be deeply affected by this malady”.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Denying reports that the Minister’s speech was “blacked out”, government sources said: “It is the standard SAARC practice that the opening statement by the host country is public and open to the media and the rest of the proceedings are in camera.” Singh also took a dig at Pakistan’s recent actions where it referred to slain militant Burhan Wani as a martyr: “It also needs to be ensured that terrorism is not glorified and is not patronised by any state. One country’s terrorist cannot be a martyr or freedom fighter for anyone.”He made an appeal to the SAARC nations to isolate those who sponsor terrorism: “Those who provide support, encouragement, sanctuary, safe haven or any assistance to terrorism or terrorists must be isolated. Strongest possible steps need to be taken not only against terrorists and terrorist organisations but also those individuals, institutions, organisations or nations that support them.”The Minister said the distinction between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ terrorists was misleading and urged all SAARC member states to adopt ‘zero tolerance’ to any type of terrorism.