Rajnath Singh spoke at the Saarc Home Ministers summit on Thursday but Pakistan, the host of the summit, blocked media coverage of his speech.

Rajnath Singh spoke at the Saarc Home Ministers summit on Thursday but Pakistan, the host of the summit, blocked media coverage of his speech.

Pakistan was probably hoping that if you were not right there in the room (which of course you weren’t) then you won’t have any way of knowing what he said. At least till the time the Indian government decides to follow standard operating procedure and make a copy of his speech public.

The only channel that was allowed to cover it was Pakistan’s state media, according to ANI. No private channels, neither Indian nor Pakistani, were permitted to air Singh’s speech.

The development is not much of a surprise as Singh had said before he left that he intends to speak about how the regional players should cooperate against terrorism.

HM Rajnath Singh's speech at SAARC conference blacked out. No media allowed to cover Indian HM's speech — ANI (@ANI_news) August 4, 2016

Only Pakistan state PTV was allowed to cover introductory speeches of Pakistan PM&Interior Minister. Even pvt Pak media not allowed. — ANI (@ANI_news) August 4, 2016

However, we do have a good idea of what Singh said in his speech. Here are the highlights:

— There should be strongest action not only against terrorists or organisations but also against those individuals, organisations and nations who support terrorism.

— There should be no glorification or eulogising of terrorists as martyrs.

— There are no good terrorists or bad terrorists.

— Mere condemnation of terrorism and terrorists is not enough.

— Those who provide support, encouragement, give sanctuary and safe haven and assistance to terrorists and terrorism must be isolated.

Pakistan’s move may have worked in the 1980s, but in today’s digital age, it is very tough to keep information out of the hands of those who are looking for it.

With inputs from PTI