JOIN USAs he prepares to travel to Pakistan for the SAARC meet, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday held a meeting with top security officials.
Though the meeting was described as routine in nature, official sources said that the security aspect with regard to the trip was reviewed.
The meeting was attended by Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and top officials of intelligence agencies among others.
The Centre has made it clear that Singh will be visiting Pakistan for the meeting of SAARC Interior Ministers beginning August 3 but there will be no bilateral meetings with his Pakistani counterpart.
His visit comes in the midst of protests in Jammu and Kashmir over the killing of self-styled commander of Hizbul Mujhaideen Burhan Wani and remarks made by the Pakistani government on the issue.
New Delhi is also upset over Pakistan not reciprocating and inviting an Indian investigation team to visit Islamabad to probe the Pathankot airbase terror strike. India had allowed five Pakistani officers, including one from the ISI, to visit New Delhi and Pathankot to conduct the probe.
At the SAARC meeting, Singh will also raise Pakistan’s sustained support to cross-border terrorism and its role in fuelling unrest in Jammu and Kashmir.
Singh’s visit will be the first by a top Indian minister to Pakistan after the Pathankot attack.