Islamabad: Seeking to down play Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram's remarks that India may snap business and tourist links with Pakistan, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said he did not mind such statements as the Indian government was under "tremendous" public pressure over the Mumbai attack.
Asked to comment on Chidambaram's remarks which he made in an interview to a British daily, Gilani said, "I'll act extremely responsibly. There is tremendous pressure of the public on the Indian government for such sort of statements. Therefore, I don't mind their statements."
Gilani, who was speaking on the sidelines of a seminar, said he would probably make a policy statement on this issue in the National Assembly. He did not give details.
Chidambaram told The Times daily on Monday that there were "many, many links" between India and Pakistan and if Islamabad did not help to bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to justice, "those ties will become weaker and weaker and one day snap."
"Why would we entertain Pakistani business people? Why would we entertain tourists in India? Why would we send tourists there?" Chidambaram told the paper.
Asked about the US move to impose sanctions on 13 people and three companies linked to the proliferation network of disgraced nuclear scientist AQ Khan, Gilani said: "The Abdul Qadir Khan matter is over."
He said a committee will soon be set up to discuss bills presented by different political parties seeking the abolition of the 17th amendment of the Constitution that gives the President sweeping powers to dismiss Prime Minister and dissolve Parliament.
Replying to a question on the balance of power between the President and Parliament, Gilani said, "It is up to Parliament to decide."
Meanwhile, former premier Nawaz Sharif "regretted" Chidambaram's remarks that India may snap business, tourist and transport links with Pakistan if it fails to act against those involved in the Mumbai attacks.
"If that is the thinking (in India), it is a matter of regret. What is the objective and aim? Is it to isolate each other or to eliminate terrorism?" he asked.
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