Disappointed by India’s arrogant, negative response, tweets Imran

NEWDELHI:Pakistan All my life I have come across small men occupying big offices who do not have the vision to see the larger picture. IMRAN KHAN,

Prime Minister, Pakistan

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday hit out at India’s “arrogant and negative response” after it cancelled the proposed meeting of foreign ministers in New York later this month.

“Disappointed at the arrogant & negative response by India to my call for resumption of the peace dialogue. However, all my life I have come across small men occupying big offices who do not have the vision to see the larger picture,” he said in a series of tweets in English and Urdu.

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”.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar also launched a frontal attack on Pakistan and its prime minister, 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,” he said.

Qureshi on Friday expressed disappointment at India calling off the meeting, alleging that “internal pressure” was behind it and New Delhi was forced to make the “unfortunate” move.

“It is unfortunate that India has not given a positive response. India has once again wasted an opportunity for peace,” he told the media in Islamabad, reported news agency PTI.

He said that it was important to sit and talk for the sake of peace and stability in the region.

India’s refusal “shows that the Indian government is facing internal pressure”, he added.

“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.