Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday addressed the Rajya Sabha and said that he stressed on working against terror during his brief visit to Islamabad. Singh was in Pakistan for a South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation ministerial meeting. In Parliament, he said he had asked all member nations to ratify global conventions against terror, and asked them not to “glorify” terror. This was the first visit to the country by an Indian minister after the Pathankot terror attacks.

Opposition parties in the Upper House spoke in support of Singh and against Pakistan’s treatment of him during his visit. Their support came following reports that claimed the media was not allowed to cover Singh’s speech at the SAARC ministers’ meeting.

“We support him for articulating our issues and concerns there. And Pakistan did not respond properly,” Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati said. Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said, “We may have differences, but when the PM or Home Minister goes to another country, we hear that the Home Minister was not covered by Pakistan media. He did not enjoy the protocol a large nation like us deserves,” adding that he condemned the supposed media blackout if it was true.