India scores diplomatic goal against Pakistan

New Delhi: India on Saturday issued a strong demarche to Palestine on the issue of the presence of its ambassador to Pakistan at an event of JuD chief and Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed, terming it "unacceptable". India's Secretary (economic relations) Vijay Gokhale in the external affairs ministry called Palestinian ambassador here Adnan Abu Al Haija to South Block after which the ministry said, "The concerns were conveyed both in New Delhi to the Palestinian Ambassador and in Ramallah to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, State of Palestine."

Haija informed India that Palestine Ambassador to Pakistan Walid Abu Ali has been recalled for attending the rally organised by Saeed. Asserting that Ali's action was not "acceptable" given the close and friendly ties between India and Palestine, the top envoy said that Ali has been a given couple of days to pack and return from Islamabad. "The Palestine government has told Ali that he is not its envoy to Pakistan any more," said Haija.

"The Palestinians have said they will deal with this matter appropriately. It was also conveyed that Palestine highly values its relationship with India and stands with us in the war against terrorism, and will not engage with those who commit acts of terror against India," the Indian external affairs ministry said in a release.

Palestinian ambassador to Pakistan Ali reportedly attended the Difah-e-Pakistan Council-organised rally in Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi on Friday. Difah-e-Pakistan Council is an association of religious and extremist groups in Pakistan, headed by Saeed.