Close X
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
ADVT 
International

Not All Are Terrorists: Pak On India Objecting To Burhan Wani Stamps

IANS, 24 Sep, 2018 12:45 PM
    India's reluctance to hold talks with Pakistan will not stop Islamabad from closing doors on its efforts to promote peace in the region, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said, days after New Delhi cancelled the foreign minister-level meeting in New York.
     
     
    Addressing a news conference at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington on Sunday, Mr Qureshi said India used incidents that happened in July to cancel peace talks that it agreed to in September.
     
     
    India on Friday cited the "brutal" killing of three policemen in Jammu and Kashmir as well as the release of the postal stamps "glorifying" Kashmiri terrorist Burhan Wani for calling off the meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistani counterpart Qureshi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York this month.
     
     
    "India is reluctant, we will not close our doors," Mr Qureshi said.
     
     
    "Hiding away from issues will not make them disappear. It will not improve the situation in Kashmir," he was quoted as saying by the 'Dawn' newspaper.
     
     
    The foreign minister said he was unable to understand India's refusal to participate in peace talks with Pakistan.
     
     
    "Engagement, no-engagement. Coming, not coming. We desired talks as we believe the sensible way is to meet and talk. They agreed, and then disagreed," he said.
     
     
    Mr Qureshi said India's response to Pakistan's peace offer was harsh and non-diplomatic.
     
     
    "We did not use a non-diplomatic language in our rejoinder. Our response was matured and measured. They adopted a new approach, and moved back," he said.
     
     
    The foreign minister also alleged that Ms Swaraj's "language and tone was unbecoming of a foreign minister", the report said.
     
     
    Asked if tensions between India and Pakistan could lead to a war between the two countries, Mr Qureshi said "Who is talking of war? Not us. We want peace, stability, employment and improving lives. You identify where is the reluctance".
     
     
    Mr Qureshi said that Pakistan's desire for peace should not be mistaken for a sign of weakness.
     
     
    "We want peace. It does not mean, we cannot defend ourselves against aggression. We can but we do not have an aggressive mindset," he said.
     
     
    Mr Qureshi also rejected India's concerns over the release of  postal stamps "glorifying" Kashmiri terrorist Burhan Wani, saying "hundreds of thousands of people are fighting in Kashmir, not all of them are terrorists".
     
     
    The foreign minister also reiterated Pakistan's offer to open the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara corridor for allowing Sikh pilgrims from India to visit the historic gurdwara on the 550th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev.
     
     
    India initially agreed to a meeting between Ms Swaraj and Mr Qureshi, but later said it would would be "meaningless" to hold talks after the "two deeply disturbing" developments.
     
     
    Ties between India and Pakistan nosedived following a spate of terror attacks on Indian military bases by Pakistan-based terror groups since January 2016.
     
     
    Following the strikes, India announced it will not engage in talks with Pakistan, saying terror and talks cannot go hand-in-hand.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Indian-American Found Guilty In Hawala Scheme Of Drug Traffickers

    Indian-American Found Guilty In Hawala Scheme Of Drug Traffickers
    An Indian-American has been convicted for his role in an international money laundering organisation that conspired to move millions of dollars in proceeds for narcotics traffickers, authorities said.

    Indian-American Found Guilty In Hawala Scheme Of Drug Traffickers

    Indian-American Attorney Parthiv Patel Admitted To New Jersey Bar

    Indian-American Attorney Parthiv Patel Admitted To New Jersey Bar
      Patel is the first Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient to have been admitted to the New Jersey Bar Association.

    Indian-American Attorney Parthiv Patel Admitted To New Jersey Bar

    3 Indian-Origin CEOs Among Business Leaders Who Dined With Trump At Davos

    3 Indian-Origin CEOs Among Business Leaders Who Dined With Trump At Davos
    Three Indian-origin CEOs attended a dinner hosted by US President Donald Trump in Davos with top European executives to highlight investment opportunities in the country.

    3 Indian-Origin CEOs Among Business Leaders Who Dined With Trump At Davos

    Clashes Erupt In London As Pakistani-Origin British Lord Nazir Ahmed Calls For Azad Kashmir On R-Day

    Clashes Erupt In London As Pakistani-Origin British Lord Nazir Ahmed Calls For Azad Kashmir On R-Day
    Clashes erupted outside the Indian High Commission in London on Friday evening as Lord Nazir Ahmed, a pro-Pakistan peer in the House of Lords attempted to hold a "black day" protest, which was vehemently countered by many Indian and British groups.

    Clashes Erupt In London As Pakistani-Origin British Lord Nazir Ahmed Calls For Azad Kashmir On R-Day

    Trump Proposes To Terminate Visa Lottery, Move Likely To Benefit Indian IT Workers

    Trump Proposes To Terminate Visa Lottery, Move Likely To Benefit Indian IT Workers
    The proposal to end visa lottery, if passed, is expected to significantly reduce the green card backlogs for many IT professionals and highly skilled immigrants from India.

    Trump Proposes To Terminate Visa Lottery, Move Likely To Benefit Indian IT Workers

    Nikki Haley Condemns Rumours About Her As 'Highly Offensive, Disgusting'

    Nikki Haley Condemns Rumours About Her As 'Highly Offensive, Disgusting'
    The Former Anti-trump Governor Became One Of The President’s Favorite Officials, Giving Her Rare Standing On The Global Stage. The U.n. Ambassador Explains How In Politico’s Women Rule Podcast.

    Nikki Haley Condemns Rumours About Her As 'Highly Offensive, Disgusting'