New Delhi, Sep 6 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna on Thursday said the main intention of his visit to Pakistan was to normalize the relations between the two Asian neighbours.
Krishna, however, said that he did not expect much during his visit to Pakistan.
"We don't expect too much from my visit to Pakistan. It is only an intention of the Government of India and the people of India to have normal relations with our neighbour," he told mediapersons here.
Krishna, who will be meeting his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar in Islamabad on September 8, said that he would not discuss the alleged role of Pakistani websites in spreading rumours in wake of violence in Assam that caused hundreds of people from northeast across the country to flee to their homeland.
"Those issues, which are already under investigation, will certainly not be raised by me because the investigations have got to proceed unhindered, un-interfered by the executive. And depending on how our talks progress, I will decide what to raise and what not to raise," he added.
The alleged key plotter in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, Sayeed Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Hamza alias Abu Jundal, has confessed to the Indian authorities that he coordinated the attack by 10 members of Pakistan's Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant group from a 'control room' in Pakistan's Karachi city and also helped to train the gunmen.
Krishna further said that he would urge the Pakistani authorities to pardon and release Indian national Sarabjit Singh, who was condemned to death for his involvement in a string of bombings in Pakistan's Punjab province in 1990.
"We have always raised Sarabjit Singh's issue and we requested them that a human view has to be taken at this ripe age. I think it would be desirable that Pakistan shows mercy on him and send him back to India," said Krishna.
Forty nine-year-old Sarabjit, who has spent 21 years on death row, is currently being held at Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail.
When asked that not much progress has taken place in the 26/11 case and whether there was some political disconnect between the two sides, Krishna said: "Whenever the two Prime Ministers have met or whenever our Prime Minister has met the Pakistani leadership. Like President Zardari (Asif Ali Zardari) when he came to meet Ajmer Sharif, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh hosted a lunch for him and then they discussed bilateral issues."
"And we have always raised the question of terror with Pakistani authorities whenever they have met - the leadership of both the countries," he added.
Krishna further said Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari met recently on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Tehran.
"So, these high-level meetings at such frequencies, which are being conducted.... certainly has sent out a very strong message both to our country and to Pakistan," he added.
Krishna further said India would certainly cooperate with Pakistan on issues related to terror.
"Whenever we have been asked, we have always cooperated and will continue to cooperate with them," he added.
This will be Krishna's second visit to Pakistan since 2010. (ANI)
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