Global Watch

INDIA Turns Down Pak PM’s Request For Meet Between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj With Her Pak counterpart On Sidelines Of UNGA, Says New Delhi

INDIA has rejected Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s appeal for a meet between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistan counterpart Shah Mahmoud Qureshi on the sidelines of the Annual United Nations General Assembly at New York. Ruling out any dialogue yielding to Pro-Pak lobby in India and Washington, New Delhi says terror and talks cannot go together. India is  of the view that the  situation across  the India-Pakistan International border has not  improved since  cricketer turned  Politician Imran Khan’s  coming to power in Islamabad .Indian public  sentiment  is also  against  resumption of talks  with Pakistan  even after  Pakistan PM Khan has sent an emotional  letter  to PM Narendra Modi batting  for  discussion. Sushma Swaraj,a  seasoned  politician, is  also likely  attend  the meet of the SAARC’ foreign Ministers’  conclave  in the  United  Nations  even after  India  rejecting   Pakistan’s  suggestion  to hold  SAARC  meet on its  soil.Meanwhile, in Washington, The United States had hailed India’s acceptance of Pakistani proposal for talks between the foreign ministers on the sidelines of the ongoing annual UN General Assembly session terming it as a “terrific news”.”We saw that reports on meetings between Indian and Pak leaders). I think that’s terrific news for the Indians and Pakistanis to be able to sit down and have a conversation together,” State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert told reporters at her daily news conference. In New Delhi, Spokesperson for Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar had earlier tweeted that India agreed to a meeting between Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Pakistan’s request. He, however, made it clear that it was not the resumption of the Indo-Pak dialogue.Nauert also welcomed the exchange of messages between Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”We saw the reports about the positive messages being exchanged between the  two Prime Ministers. We hope that the conditions will be set for a good strong relationship, a good strong bilateral relationship in the future,” she said. The United States has traditionally welcomed any talks between India and Pakistan, the pace of which, it has noted, depends on the leadership of the two countries.”In general, the United States supports dialogue between India and Pakistan that can reduce tensions, and we understand and had frequent conversations with the Indian partners on the expectations that there would be demonstrable reduction in cross-border terrorism or infiltration that will help create the confidence for dialogue to take place,” Alice Wells, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, had told reporters during a conference call last week. Anyway, analysts say in the election year, PM Narendra Modi led team will be very cautious to ensure that the government does not walk into the trap laid by the military ruled neighbouring nation.

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