ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday expressed disappointment over India’s decision to call off proposed peace talks with Pakistan, and called it the ‘negative and arrogant’ response of the neighbouring country.
PM Khan had written a letter to his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, seeking resumption of dialogue with ‘constructive engagement’ between the two countries on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session later this month in New York.
However, India a day later announced not to proceed with the proposed talks, accusing Pakistan of ‘unclean intentions’ for the dialogue.
In his response today, PM Khan said: “Disappointed at the arrogant & negative response by India to my call for resumption of the peace dialogue. However, all my life I have come across small men occupying big offices who do not have the vision to see the larger picture.”
Read: PM Imran emphasizes on ‘constructive engagement’ in letter to Modi
Indian External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar had said the Indian initiative to cancel talks had been taken over ‘killing’ of three policemen in occupied Kashmir as well as the release of postal stamps glorifying Kashmiri Mujahid Burhan Wani.
He said talks with Pakistan in such an environment would be meaningless.
Also read: India denies Modi called for dialogue in ‘congratulatory letter’ to Imran
Khan’s letter was the first formal proposal of bilateral dialogue since he formed the government in Pakistan last month. It came in response to PM Modi’s own letter on August 20 which conveyed that New Delhi was looking for constructive and meaningful engagement with Islamabad.
Imran also mentioned in his letter: “Pakistan and India have an undeniably challenging relationship. We, however, owe it to our people, especially the future generations to peacefully resolve all outstanding issues, including the Jammu & Kashmir dispute, to bridge differences and achieve a mutually beneficial outcome. Siachin and Sir Creek need close attention to move towards resolution.”
The two nations have not had any substantial dialogue since 2015 when Swaraj had travelled to Islamabad for Heart of Asia conference. The ties between the two countries had strained after terror attack in India in 2016.
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