New Delhi: Blaming Pakistan for the killing of security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir and accusing it of glorifying terrorism, India on Friday called off talks between the two foreign ministers. It said Islamabad's "evil agenda" stood exposed.
External Affairs Ministers Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi were set to meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York next week marking the first thaw in bilateral ties that have steadily deteriorated.
The Indian government said in a strongly-worded statement that since the announcement of the talks on Thursday, two "deeply disturbing" developments had taken place.
"The latest brutal killings of our security personnel by Pakistan-based entities and the recent release of a series of 20 postage stamps by Pakistan glorifying a terrorist and terrorism confirmed that Pakistan will not mend its ways.
"Now, 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 of Pakistan, Imran Khan, has been revealed to the world," Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.
"Any conversation with Pakistan in such an environment would be meaningless.
"In view of the changed situation, there will be no meeting between the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan in New York," he said.
Pakistan has issued postage stamps in memory of Burhan Wani, a Hizbul Mujahideen leader who was shot dead by Indian security forces in July 2016, sparking widespread street protests.
And the announcement came on a day when terrorists abducted and gunned down three policemen in Jammu and Kashmir, marking a sharp escalation in militancy in the state which India says is backed by Pakistan.
The development comes 24 hours after the External Affairs Ministry announced that India had accepted Pakistan's request for a meeting between Sushma Swaraj and Qureshi.
India said on Friday that it agreed for the New York meeting in response to the spirit reflected in the letters from Pakistan's new Prime Minister Imran Khan as well as Qureshi.
Qureshi alleges 'internal pressure'
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi Friday expressed disappointment over the decision. He alleged that "internal pressure" forced New Delhi to make the "unfortunate" move.
"It is unfortunate that India has not given a positive response. Indian has once again wasted an opportunity for peace," Qureshi told the media at Islamabad on Friday.
He said that it was important to sit and talk for the sake of peace and stability in the region.
"The refusal of India shows that Indian government is facing internal pressure," he said.
"It seems that India is already preparing for its elections due in the country next year," Qureshi was quoted as saying by the Express Tribune.
He said it seems that "India has priorities other than dialogue, adding there is a group in the New Delhi that doesn't want talks to take place.
He went on to say that if India doesn't want dialogue, then Pakistan also won't be in a haste either.
But, Qureshi reiterated that dialogue is the only way to come to the resolution of any issue, the report said.
He said the world should see that "Pakistan has held a positive outlook towards the situation while India's attitude has not been so forthcoming".
"We said that we want dialogue - but in a dignified manner," he added.
