‘GOOD TIES WITH INDIA, PAKISTAN WILL CONTINUE’
Dr M says country can’t take sides, appreciates the problems they face
MALAYSIA appreciates and will maintain its good relations with India and Pakistan.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said this was despite both neighbouring South Asian countries being on the verge of a conflict.
Dr Mahathir said by taking such a stand, it was meant to illustrate indirectly that his threeday official visit to Pakistan did not mean that Malaysia had made its choice on which side it supported.
“We cannot side with anyone. I think this, allowing terrorists to have this upper hand, is very dangerous. We must stop terrorists. Both sides (India and Pakistan) must prevent acts of terrorism. When terrorists fight, they just want to take revenge.
“They cannot conquer. What can they do?... Kill people. Is that what humanity is fated for? We don’t want to take sides with anyone, but we appreciate the problems they face.”
Dr Mahathir said this at the Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi near here before leaving for Malaysia yesterday after concluding his visit to Pakistan.
He said the over-reliance of Islamic countries on developed nations had caused them to be afraid to protest against wrongful actions by the latter.
He said because of this, they had to abide by what Western countries did.
“Islamic countries are too dependent on developed nations for everything. Their ability is limited. Because Western countries strongly support Israel, it has caused Islamic nations to be scared to condemn Israel.
“(If they were to do so) Western countries will take action against them.”