Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 21
Within 24 hours of accepting Pakistan’s talks offer, the Union Government on Friday called off a meeting between the Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan in New York next week, citing “two deeply disturbing developments”. Sushma Swaraj and Shah Mehmood Qureshi were to meet along the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session.
“Now, it is obvious that behind Pakistan’s proposal for talks to make a fresh beginning, the evil agenda of Pakistan stands exposed and the true face of the new Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, has been revealed in his first few months in office. Any conversation with Pakistan in such an environment would be meaningless,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar announced here.
Kumar said: “The latest brutal killing of our security personnel by Pakistan-based entities and the recent release of a series of 20 postage stamps by Pakistan glorifying a terrorist (Burhan Wani) and terrorism confirm that Pakistan will not mend its ways.” He pointed out that this was not in line with the “spirit reflected in the letters from the new PM and Foreign Minister of Pakistan”.
Significantly, while BSF jawan Narendra Singh’s mutilated body was found near the International Border in Jammu on September 18, two days prior to the announcement of talks, the postal stamps were reportedly released before the Pakistan elections in July this year.
“It seems the Indian Government is divided on the issue of negotiations — have never seen such a puerile statement by any Foreign Office. The world is watching: Pakistan stands for peace while Indian policies are being guided by extremist ideologies,” tweeted Fawad Chaudry, Pakistan’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting.
The Pakistan Foreign Minister alleged there was a group in New Delhi that didn’t want talks to happen. He was quoted by the Express Tribune as saying: “It seems that India is already preparing for its elections due in the country next year… Pakistan had asked for talks in the larger interest of the region.”
‘True face of imran’
Evil agenda of Pakistan stands exposed and the true face of the new PM, Imran Khan, has been revealed. — MEA spoksperson
‘World watching’
World is watching. Pakistan stands for peace, while Indian policies are being guided by extremist ideologies. — Pak Minister of Information & Broadcasting
India calling off Foreign Minister-level meet ‘unfortunate’: Qureshi
File photo of Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. AP/PTI
Islamabad, September 21
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Friday expressed disappointment at India calling off a meeting between him and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in New York and alleged that “internal pressure” forced New Delhi to make the “unfortunate” move.
India cited the “brutal” killing of three policemen in Jammu and Kashmir as well as the release of postal stamps “glorifying” Kashmiri militant Burhan Wani for cancelling the meeting between Swaraj and Qureshi on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this month.
Qureshi expressed disappointment at the cancellation of the foreign minister-level talks, saying it was “unfortunate.” “It is unfortunate that India has not given a positive response. Indian has once again wasted an opportunity for peace,” Qureshi told the media here.
He said that it was important to sit and talk for the sake of peace and stability in the region.
“The refusal of India shows that Indian government is facing internal pressure,” he said.
“It seems that India is already preparing for its elections due in the country next year,” Qureshi was quoted as saying by the Express Tribune.
He said Pakistan sincerely wants resolution of all outstanding issues, including Kashmir, with India through negotiations.
Pakistan has always extended an olive branch to India for the resolution of problems and enhancing bilateral ties in an amicable manner, but New Delhi does not come out of its “internal politics”, state-run Radio Pakistan quoted him as saying.
The minister said Pakistan can only wish India to come to the negotiating table, but “we can neither pressurise anybody nor will accept the same for this purpose.” Qureshi said the world wants connectivity and promote regional trade, but India is creating problems.
He said India’s “stubbornness” is also adversely affecting future of the SAARC countries, the Radio Pakistan report said.
But, Qureshi reiterated that dialogue is the only way to come to the resolution of any issue.
“We said that we want dialogue – but in a dignified manner,” he added.
Announcing the cancellation of the New York meeting, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in New Delhi that the incidents “exposed” the “true face” of Pakistan’s new Prime Minister Imran Khan to the world as well as Islamabad’s evil agenda behind the proposal for talks.
“The latest brutal killings of our security personnel by Pakistan-based entities and the recent release of a series of 20 postage stamps by Pakistan glorifying a terrorist and terrorism confirm that Pakistan will not mend its ways,” Kumar said.
He noted that “two deeply disturbing developments have taken place” since yesterday’s announcement of a meeting between the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan in New York later this month.
“In view of the changed situation, there will be no meeting between the Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan in New York,” he said.
Kumar said talks with Pakistan in such an environment would be “meaningless”.
Former High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit said he was surprised by India’s move as New Delhi should not have agreed for it in the first place due to forthcoming elections but after agreeing for a meeting it was more surprising that it backed out.
Former advisor on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz said that it was “unfortunate” that India cancelled the meeting as it would have created an environment for peace.
Former foreign minister Khurshid Kasuri said the cancellation reminded him of the Agra summit when everything was ready for joint statement but India backed out at the last minute. PTI
