Editor’s Desk: As media professionals, we may not use the terms like “shameless” and “moron” for a visiting Interior Minister of a neighbouring country, but the nation of 1.2 billion would definitely demand answers from Rehman Malik and the Indian establishment for his “reckless” comments on the killing of Captain Saurabh Kalia.

Soon after his arrival in India yesterday, Rehman Malik created a stir by claiming that he was not sure whether Captain Kalia died of bullet injury or the weather. The nation had mourned the brutal killing of Captain Kalia and five other jawans during the Kargil War in 1999. Malik’s comments have only added insult to injury for grieving family and common people of India.

Captain Kalia and his team were brutally tortured before being killed after they were abducted by the Pakistani forces. Their eyes were removed, member organs were chopped off and injury marks were found all over the body. Their skulls were smashed too.

Captain Kalia’s father Dr. NK Kalia has moved the Supreme Court, seeking permission to raise the issue in the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The apex court shared his concerns and issued a notice to the government yesterday. He is also supposed to meet PM Dr. Manmohan Singh to discuss the matter.

At a time when the entire country has rallied behind Captain Kalia’s family, demanding justice for the martyr, Rehman Malik’s comments have shocked everyone. Instead of apologising for this heinous crime and taking steps to bring the guilty to book, he has insulted India and its martyrs by putting the blame on the weather.

If that was not enough, Malik further insulted the martyrs in India by asking the country to forget 26/11 and move forward, but at the same time, he made it clear that Pakistan won’t forget the Kashmir issue. Should we welcome a person of Rehman Malik’s stature to move forward? The nation should answer this.