ISLAMABAD – Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has hit back at Indiaover the issue of talks cancellation from New Delhi.
He on Saturday said New Delhi called off the planned meeting between theforeign ministers of India and Pakistan owing to an issue which took placein July.
“India in September presented an issue which took place in July as anexcuse to back out of the meeting,” the foreign minister said whilespeaking to the media in Doha en route to New York. “I think this is notappropriate,” he added.
FM Qureshi elaborated, “Stamps were used as an excuse although the stampsin question were distributed before the PTI-led government took charge.”
The foreign minister said India first agreed to the meeting and then “laterfound an excuse” to cancel it.
“The talks were called off due to India’s internal issues,” Qureshiasserted and added that he was “deeply disappointed” after reading India’sstance.
The foreign minister, who is travelling to New York to attend the 73rdUnited Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, further stressed,”Diplomatic protocol was crushed by India.”
FM Qureshi further regretted that the “words used by India for PrimeMinister Imran Khan’s July 26 sentiments were inappropriate and contrary todiplomatic protocol.”
He also said that the resolution of outstanding disputes between Pakistanand India through dialogue is in the regional interest.