Islamabad won’t mend ways: Delhi

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