Minister blames ‘divide in India’

India’s backtracking on meeting under political pressure ahead of polls, Qureshi says

Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mehmood Qureshi yesterday said that the Indian decision to backtrack from the foreign ministers’ meeting in New York next week, just a day after its nod, looked to be the result of internal political pressure ahead of upcoming general polls.

Talking to a private news channel following media reports on the Indian decision to cancel the foreign ministers’ meeting scheduled on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on September 27, the foreign minister said there looked to be a divide inside India where one faction desired the resolution of issues through talks while the other opposes such engagement due to political pressure.

He said Pakistan’s viewpoint was positive, as the country desired to focus on the betterment of the people and the region, by improving ties with India. Pakistan also wanted the reconciliation process in Afghanistan to move forward, he added.

‘Constructive talk needed’

The minister said that Prime Minister Imran Khan, in his letter to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, had also called for constructive engagement with India and the Indian side had also announced the schedule of the foreign ministers’ meeting on September 27.

The minister said the situation in Indian-administered Kashmir was a reality that had also been evidenced by the UN Human Rights Commission. He said any deviation from this dispute would be tantamount to deviating from the issues.

He said the leadership was supposed to resolve issues without being frustrated over negative comments and articles. However, the foreign minister said he would present Pakistan’s viewpoint to the world community on September 29 at the UNGA.

Pakistan never blamed anyone for its internal situation, and successfully defeated terrorism consequent to its National Action Plan and efforts by its security agencies, he said. He said the pressure tactics being used by India had been proving futile for decades, without benefiting the people of the region where millions had been living below the poverty line.

Pakistan’s viewpoint was positive, as the country desired to focus on the betterment of the people and the region, by improving ties with India.