Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has 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, reported PTI.
Announcing the cancellation of the New York meeting, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar reportedly 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 added.
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 was quoted as saying.
Kumar said talks with Pakistan in such an environment would be “meaningless”.
Qureshi, on his part, 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 reportedly said.
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 was quoted as saying.
“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 it seems that “India has priorities other than dialogue, adding there is a group in the New Delhi that doesn’t want talks to take place.