Afridi’s comments will not affect Indo-Pak dialogue process: Omar Abdullah

April 6th, 2011 - 9:36 pm ICT by ANI  

Manmohan Singh Jammu Apr 6 (ANI): Asserting that India is far more mature as a country, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi’s reported comments will not affect the dialogue process between the two nations.

“From time to time, statements are made. I don’t believe that Shahid Afridi’s statement have any impact on the process of dialogue between India and Pakistan. At least speaking for India, we are far more mature as a country, then to react over one individual’s point of view however painful that point of view might be,” Abdullah told reporters after attending the inaugural function of the two-day workshop organized by Eco Tourism Society of India here.

“We are committed to a sustained dialogue between India and Pakistan. Clearly, the only risk that this dialogue faces is terrorism. So long as there is no violence like you saw in Mumbai or elsewhere, I believe that this dialogue process will continue and I am hoping that this will deliver the results,” he added.

Afridi stirred a controversy by saying that he did not find any of the Indian cricketers having large or clean hearts.

Speaking days after losing to India in the World Cup semi-final in Mohali, Afridi said: “In my opinion, if I have to tell the truth, they (Indians) will never have hearts like Muslims and Pakistanis.”

“I don’t think they have the large and clean hearts that Allah has given us,” he added.

Afridi, who was participating in a talk show on Pakistan-based Samaa TV, said: “It is a very difficult thing for us to live with them (Indians) or to have long-term relationship with them. Nothing will come out of talks. See how many times in the past 60 years we have had friendship and then how many times things have gone bad.”

“We don’t want to fight with each other, but a third country - everyone knows which one it is - is trying to spoil our relations. (This country) is taking advantage of Pakistan and wants to take advantage of India. I don’t want to go into details but these people will not let us come together,” he added.

Asked about the Indian media’s coverage of the Pakistani team during the semi-final with India at Mohali on March 30, Afridi replied: “The Indian media has a very negative approach and very negative thoughts. The people may not be like that but I think the media had a very dirty role in spoiling relations between us and India. Our media, which is criticised by people, is hundred times better than theirs,” he said.

The remarks came a week after Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh invited his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani to watch the World Cup semi-final clash in Mohali. (ANI)

Related Stories

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted in National |

Subscribe