Citing “unclean intentions” on Pakistan’s side as the reason, Minister of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, has confirmed the cancellation of talks between India and Pakistan’s foreign ministers on the sidelines of the United National General Assembly (UNGA). Kumar in a short speech addressed some concerns related to Imran Khan’s conduct in a few weeks he has been Prime Minister.
Kumar asserted that “It is obvious that behind Pakistan’s proposal for talks to make a fresh beginning, the evil agenda of Pakistan stands exposed and the true face of the new Prime Minister Imran Khan has been revealed to the world in his first few months in office,” he said. “Any conversation with Pakistan in such an environment would be meaningless.”
#WATCH: MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar says, “It’s obvious that behind Pakistan’s proposal for talks to make a fresh beginning, evil agenda of Pakistan stands exposed & true face of new Prime Minister of Pakistan has been revealed to world in his first few months in the office” pic.twitter.com/e25STpUlTh
— ANI (@ANI) September 21, 2018
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi has deemed this an ‘unfortunate development’. He said Pakistan has shown willingness to talk about peace through dialogue, something PM Khan had already suggested in his victory speech. Khan had mentioned Pakistan is willing to take two steps towards peace if India takes just one first. Still, Khan sent out a request for a meeting between India and Pakistan’s foreign minister at the upcoming UNGA session. However, Kumar has clarified that ‘meeting’ does not denote proper ‘talks’, which is something that India will only take up in a ‘dignified manner’. Don’t know about you but we are hoping India Pakistan’s peace doesn’t just boil down to a tricky game of Twister.
We are also left wondering whether the bone of contention is postage stamps.
Yes, you read that right. Pakistan has allegedly issued some postage stamps. Pakistan Post had issued 20 special postage stamps on July 24, according to The Nation, carrying photos of Burhan Wani and his two associates. Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, a Kashmiri freedom fighter, was slain by Indian troops in 2017. This along with the alleged killing of Indian security forces by ‘Pakistani entities’ is the cause of this sudden cancellation of the talks.
The stamps were released in July, however, this matter is being taken up now at a crucial time in international politics. The UNGA is always a crucial point to show the intent for diplomatic peace. Usually, either party would avoid taking the charge of being non-cooperative at an international forum, which keeps a keen eye on the two players important for the subcontinent’s peace. So we are wondering what good India will achieve by showing such resistance to cooperation at this point in time.