Krishna hits back at Qureshi

Krishna hit back after Qureshi’s diatribe against India at the UNGA session during which he called for an impartial “plebiscite” under the UN auspices. The External Affairs Minister took strong exception to Qureshi’s remarks and said he was using “Kashmir as a ploy” to “deflect attention” from Pakistan’s internal trouble.

“Such unsolicited and untenable remarks will not and indeed, cannot deflect attention from the multiple problems Pakistan needs to tackle for the common good of its people and indeed of the entire region,” Krishna said.

Both sides had given indications that the two ministers were likely to meet on Tuesday but Qureshi’s vociferous speech on Kashmir scuttled any such possibility.

Resumption of talks

The two sides, however, appeared to have kept alive the possibility of resumption of the dialogue between their foreign ministers, most probably in New Delhi before year-end.
Krishna’s remarks that Qureshi was “most welcome to come” to witness the Commonwealth Games appeared to give an impression that he had invited the Pakistani minister to India during the sporting event. However, it later transpired that no second invitation was extended to Qureshi specifically for the Games.

Krishna, during his talks with Qureshi in Islamabad in July, had invited the Pakistani foreign minister to India, which was accepted but dates have not yet been finalised but will be worked out through diplomatic channels.

Meanwhile, Qureshi, before leaving New York suggested that India had changed its mind on the bilateral meeting though he was ready to meet anywhere, anytime. “I have said that I was willing to meet them anywhere, anytime,” Qureshi said before leaving for Washington.