By IANS
New Delhi : A delegation of Indian Muslims must go to Pakistan and tell the new government there to stop exporting terror to India, a senior cleric here said Wednesday.
Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the shahi imam of Jama Masjid, the country’s largest mosque, said it was high time prominent Muslims from India went to Pakistan to do some plain speaking.
“I think prominent Muslim leaders should go to Pakistan with the Indian government’s support and tell their authorities that their country should stop sending terrorists to India,” Bukhari told IANS.
“Pakistan is sending terrorists to India. After carrying out their operations, they leave. It is because of these terrorists that Muslims in India are suffering.
“We should go and hold meetings with the new (Pakistani) government, whoever forms it, and tell them on their face about terrorism in India and also Pakistan’s role in it.
“I had told Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf in 2002 that unless Pakistan tackles terrorism, they will suffer. Now Pakistan is caught up in the fireball of terrorism.”
Bukhari is one of India’s better-known Muslim leaders although he is criticised by many for taking extreme stands on some issues. Following elections in Pakistan, a new government headed by the Pakistan Peoples Party is expected to take office soon.
New Delhi accuses Islamabad of training and arming terrorist groups in India. Pakistan routinely denies the charge.