India says Pak’s ‘evil agenda’ exposed, cancels meet in US
Govt says Imran’s ‘true face’ revealed; wasted opportunity, says Pak
NEW DELHI: Some 25 hours after it was announced, India on Friday cancelled the proposed meeting between external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistan counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi, in New York citing the brutal killing of security personnel by Pakistan-based entities and the recent release of a series of 20 postage stamps by the neighbour “glorifying a terrorist and terrorism”, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.
He also launched a frontal attack on Pakistan and its premier, saying “the evil agenda” of the neighbour has been exposed and the “true face of the new Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, has been revealed to the world in his first few months in office”.
“In view of the changed situation, there will be no meeting between the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan in New York,” the spokesperson said.
The cancellation of the meeting wasn’t received well across the border.
In comments to media in Islamabad, Qureshi expressed disappointment at India’s announcement. “It is unfortunate that India has not given a positive response. India has once again wasted an opportunity for peace. The refusal of India shows the Indian government is facing internal pressure. It seems that India is already preparing for its elections due in next year.”
Pakistan’s minister for information Fawad Husain Chaudhry termed the statement of the Indian foreign office “puerile”.
“Most unfortunate is the reference in the Indian MEA statement to the person of the Prime Minister of Pakistan. We choose not to further comment beyond saying that these comments are against all norms of civilised discourse ,” another statement by a Pakistani spokesperson said.