Press Release
CNN-IBN’s Devil’s Advocate interviews Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, Pakistan Foreign Minister
PAKISTAN FOREIGN MINISTER KASURI REVEALS DETAILS OF INDIAN BACK CHANNEL PROPOSALS RECEIVED BY PAKISTAN SHORTLY BEFORE THE BOMBAY BOMBS AND DESCRIBES THEM AS “AN ADVANCE” AND “A STEP FORWARD”, IS HOPEFUL THAT AN EARLY DATE FOR FOREIGN SECRETARY TALKS WILL BE FIXED WHILST CLAIMING THAT THE BOMBAY BOMBS WERE THE WORK OF INDIAN ORGANISATIONS.
In an astonishing revelation that will create widespread surprise both in India and Pakistan, the Pakistani Foreign Minister has revealed that shortly before the Bombay bomb blasts Islamabad received written proposals from India which he described as “an advance” and “a step forward” in the agreed process of exploring options for a settlement of the Kashmir dispute. In the first interview to an Indian television channel after the Bombay bomb blasts, Mr. Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri told CNN-IBN’s Devil’s Advocate in an interview to be aired on Sunday the 23rd of July at 8.30 p.m.
“You know it’s not proper that I talk that openly but still … we have received something from India. I think the back channels are working and I know what they are doing but I cannot speak more than what I have already said … They (the proposals) are definitely an advance because for the first time we have received something in writing. So it’s definitely an advance. (However) it would be inaccurate to say whether our two positions are beginning to merge but we are talking to each other…”
Mr. Kasuri was asked by Devil’s Advocate whether this meant that both sides are now exploring options for a settlement of the Kashmir dispute and replied: “I can’t deny that”.
Mr. Kasuri was asked whether the Indian back channel proposals he was referring to were a response to President Musharraf’s concepts of self-governance and joint management and whether they had allayed the disappointment the President had expressed at not receiving an earlier response and replied:
“The President was disappointed (earlier) but now we’ve got something from India and I’m very sorry I’ve probably said more than what I should have said … Of course this is a step forward because if you won’t respond to something how can you go forward?”
Commenting on the paradox that within a short time space there had been both the Bombay blasts and the back channel communication taking further the peace process and relieving General Musharraf’s sense of disappointment, Mr. Kasuri said that this was “because the leaders of Pakistan and India both value the peace process”.
The Pakistan Foreign Minister also said that he had high hopes that when the Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan meet on the 31st of July in Dhaka for the SAARC Standing Committee they might agree on fresh dates for the postponed India-Pakistan foreign secretary talks: “I definitely think so and hope so. I would like that.”
Earlier in the half hour CNN-IBN interview, conducted during the afternoon of Friday the 21st of July at his residence in Lahore, Mr. Kasuri refused to accept that Pakistan had failed to fulfil its January 2004 commitment to ensure that no part of the territory of Pakistan was used in any way to inflict terror on India. He said:
“You have the word of the President of Pakistan. You can’t go any higher. The President himself has been attacked thrice. Would he be supporting the sort of people who are trying to kill him? The Prime Minister has (also) been attacked. There were 45 people killed in Karachi. Who was behind that?”
In the Devil’s Advocate interview to be broadcast on Sunday the 23rd, the Pakistan Foreign Minister went out of his way to angrily suggest that the blame for the Bombay blasts lay with organisations within India and that the accusation that Pakistan was responsible for the blasts was an attempt to mislead and distort the investigations. He said:
“You know the biggest problem you now have in India? Let me give you advice in your own interest. Within thirty seconds of anything happening you already know it’s happening from something based in Pakistan. Why don’t you sometimes look at what your own newspapers are saying? I’ve been following your newspapers. I’ve (also) followed The Washington Post (and) what it’s said about the Bombay blasts. Your own people are pointing fingers inwards. So don’t (blame Pakistan). In fact you are misleading your police and you are misleading your investigating agencies … and please don’t try and distort the investigation by the police … your own media is pointing accusing fingers at organisations within India.”
In the Devil’s Advocate interview Mr. Kasuri praised both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister Shivraj Patil for their initial restrained response. He claimed that both men had initially avoided blaming Pakistan and did not want the peace process derailed. Then Mr. Kasuri added: “What has happened three or four days later is actually a reaction to your own Indian domestic political compulsions.”
In the CNN-IBN interview Mr. Kasuri was asked if, as a gesture of solid proof of Pakistan’s commitment to stop all terror, Islamabad would give India direct access to interrogate Mehmood Azhar and Hafiz Mohammed Saeed and replied:
“You are asking very strange things. For example, we have not allowed the United States of America, which is our ally for the last fifty years, (such access) … We are bending backwards to build peace and trust because we have not reached that level of trust (and) incidents are happening in Pakistan and in India. We need to go towards (that goal).”
In the same interview Mr. Kasuri was asked if the interrogation records of Hafiz Mohammed Saeed when he was detained in 2002 or documents taken from the Lashkar-e-Toiba offices when they were raided in 2002 could be made available to India as a way of building trust and replied:
“We need to build trust on lots of things … I’m saying let’s build trust and a stage will come when we will be able to conduct joint investigations for what happens in Karachi or Bombay … I would rather that we move towards what you are saying. We will have to help each other (to get there).”
If you should in anyway quote from or refer to this press release please be sure to credit CNN-IBN and Devil’s Advocate. Please also mention the Kasuri interview will be broadcast on Sunday 23rd at 8.30 p.m. and repeated on Monday the 24th at 10.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m.
Bali is full of memorable moments, and some of them involve animals. Temple monkeys tug at bags, beach dogs nap near sunbeds, and cats wander into cafés like they own the place. Most interactions are harmless, but a bite or scratch can change the day quickly, because you may need immediate medical care and follow-up treatment. This is where Bali travel insurance becomes more than a box to tick.
In this article, you will explore whether animal bite treatment is insured, the exclusions, and the steps to claim easily in Bali.
Why Animal Bites in Bali Need Special Attention
Bites are not only about the visible wound. Insurers and doctors both treat them as medical events that can pose an infection risk, especially when the bite breaks the skin.
A scratch that looks small in the moment can still lead to:
● A doctor’s examination and wound cleaning
● Medicines and dressings
● Follow-up consultations if the doctor advises observation or further care
From an insurance perspective, this matters because claims are usually assessed on medical necessity and documentation, not on how dramatic the injury appears in a photo.
How International Travel Insurance Looks at an Animal Bite
Most travel policies are built around emergency medical expenses for unexpected illness or accidental injury abroad. A bite or scratch usually fits the accidental injury bucket, but coverage is rarely blanket.
In many plans, the following may be considered if a doctor prescribes them and bills and medical notes support them:
● Consultation and outpatient treatment
● Emergency care and procedures, such as wound dressing or stitches, if clinically required
● Prescribed medicines and investigations
● Hospitalisation if the treating doctor confirms it is needed
Common Reasons Claims Get Reduced or Rejected
This is the part travellers often miss. Insurers usually do not deny claims because an animal was involved. Claims become difficult when the event looks avoidable, the reporting is delayed, or the paperwork is weak.
Avoidable-Risk Situations Insurers Scrutinise
Policies commonly exclude or limit claims linked to unsafe conduct or preventable exposure. For animal bites, scrutiny may increase if the incident appears connected to:
● Provoking, feeding, or trying to handle wild animals
● Ignoring warning signs at tourist spots
● Being intoxicated at the time of the incident
● Activities that a policy lists as excluded or restricted
The takeaway is simple: if your own description sounds like a risky choice rather than a sudden accident, the insurer may challenge it.
Delays, Missing Papers, and Policy Conditions
Even when your incident is genuinely accidental, claims can still stall due to basics such as:
● Not informing the insurer or assistance partner within the required time
● Missing itemised bills, prescriptions, or clinical notes
● No proof of travel dates or passport entry details when requested
● Submitting only pharmacy slips without a doctor’s consultation record
International travel insurance is paperwork-driven. If you document it well, you reduce the chance of avoidable back-and-forth.
What to Do If You Are Bitten or Scratched in Bali
Your health comes first, always. But a few sensible steps can protect your recovery and keep your insurance file clean.
Medical Steps That Help You and Your Claim
Act fast, stay calm, and get proper care before worrying about bills.
● Clean the wound promptly and seek medical care, even if it seems minor
● Follow the doctor’s advice, including follow-ups if recommended
● Avoid self-medicating in place of a clinical assessment, because insurers often ask for a doctor’s report
Claim Notes and Documents to Collect
Keep these handy; they’ll save time and avoid follow-up questions later.
● Doctor’s notes that mention the nature of injury, treatment given, and advised next steps
● Prescriptions and pharmacy invoices
● Itemised hospital or clinic bills
● A brief written note of where and when it happened, while it is still fresh in your mind
Final Word
Animal bites in Bali are not rare, and they are not always dramatic, which is exactly why travellers underestimate them. Many travel policies can cover bite-related medical treatment when it is accidental and medically necessary, but the outcome depends on your policy terms and the quality of your documentation. If you buy cover thoughtfully, keep the assistance number handy, and respond sensibly if an incident happens, you give yourself the best chance of both good medical care and a smoother claim experience.
