India's extremists don’t want improved ties with Pakistan, says Abdul Basit

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New Delhi, Oct 20: The extremist elements in India have become biggest hurdle in improving ties between New Delhi and Islamabad, said Abdul Basit Pakistan High Commissioner to India during a television programme.

His statement has come after Shiv Sena workers disrupted a scheduled meeting between the heads of the BCCI chief Shashank Manohar and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Shahryar Khan in Mumbai.

The meeting was scheduled to be held at the BCCI office on Monday to discuss the potential series between Pakistan and India in December.

The protesters demanded that Manohar cancel talks with the PCB chairman.

Basit also referred the attack on Sudheendra Kulkarni, the organiser of former Pakistani foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri's book launch in Mumbai.

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"Pakistan wished to hold a dialogue with India over a range of issues, including terrorism and Kashmir," said Basit.

Basit also expressed regret over the rise of violence in Maharashtra state, and said the attacks of Hindu extremists on Muslims in India were a cause for concern.

OneIndia News