Search the Internet          Tips

India welcomes Commonwealth decision on Pakistan

India on Saturday welcomed the Commonwealth's decision to continue Pakistan's suspension from its councils, saying the recent election in that country were 'seriously flawed' and had taken place after 'inherently unfair constitutional manipulations'.

The eight-member Commonwealth Ministerial Group, which also includes India, took the decision to keep Pakistan away from Commonwealth forums on Friday, 'pending greater clarity and an assessment of the role and functioning of democratic institutions [in Pakistan]'.

The Commonwealth suspended Pakistan's membership at the 54-nation summit in Durban in 1999 following the military coup by General Pervez Musharraf, who ousted Nawaz Sharief in October that year.

India's position was clearly articulated at the CMAG meeting by External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha.

Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal said any government that assumes office in 'these circumstances [created after the recent general election in Pakistan]' would have no authority, as President Pervez Musharraf may dismiss it at any time.

An external affairs ministry spokesman said, "The constitutional manipulations and other means that had been taken before the polls had made it inevitable that the playing field was inherently unfair."

Tell us what you think of this report