Qureshi attacks Krishna, Indo-Pak talks falter

Agencies

Islamabad, 16 July 2010: Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has revved up the diplomatic cold war after talks between him after and his Indian counterpart ended with an acrimonious press conference in Islamabad on Thursday. Addressing the media in Islamabad on Friday afternoon Qureshi alleged that Krishna kept receiving telephone calls from New Delhi during their talks and that he was “directed”. “Indian foreign minister kept receiving calls from Delhi during talks. He is a senior minister and understands foreign policy—there was no need for this,” said Qureshi.

 

 

"India’s approach was selective. When they say all issues are on table, they should not be selective," Qureshi told reporters. "If we focus on just one issue (terrorism), it will be difficult for Pakistan to move forward," Qureshi said, while accusing India of being obsessed with terrorism and excluding other bilateral issues. Qureshi criticised India for being inflexible. "We are ready to negotiate. We are not in a hurry. When they are ready, we are ready to discuss all issues and show flexibility," Qureshi said.

 

He added that Jammu and Kashmir was part of the negotiations with India and reiterated charges of human rights violations and the imposition of curfew in parts of the state -- an issue that created much acrimony at the joint press conference he held with Krishna Thursday night. Qureshi said Pakistan was a victim of terror and its cities were repeatedly attacked by terrorists. "Terrorism is an issue that they want to discuss (but) Pakistan is as much a victim of terrorism as is India."

 

Qureshi and Krishna held wide-ranging talks on Thursday, but the discussions ended in bitterness over Pakistan raking up human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir and India’s insistence that Pakistan give a time frame for completing trial of the 26/11 terrorists. Sources in the government however tell CNN-IBN that talks haven’t broken down and will continue.