At UNGA, India's Sushma Swaraj accuses Pakistan of sabotaging peace talks

NEW YORK: During her speech at the 3rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, India’s Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj tried to mislead the international community by accusing Pakistan of sabotaging all opportunities for peace talks, ARY News reported.

“We are accused of sabotaging the process of talks. This is a complete lie. We believe that talks are the only rational means to resolve the most complex of disputes. Talks with Pakistan have begun many times. If they stopped, it was only because of Pakistan’s behavior,” said Sushma Swaraj during her speech at UNGA.

The Indian minister acknowledged that Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan wrote to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi suggesting a meeting between foreign ministers in New York and that India accepted the proposal but again blamed Pakistan for India’s own refusal to hold talks.

New Delhi on September 21 had called off a meeting between the Pakistani and Indian foreign ministers on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), just a day after confirming the development.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, while confirming the development, had cited “unclean intentions” on Pakistan’s side.

Earlier this month, Indian PM Narendra Modi, in a communique to Prime Minister Imran Khan, had stated that he seeks “meaningful and constructive” engagement between the two neighbours.

In reciprocation, PM Khan had written to the Indian premier, officially extending the offer to resume peace talks but the Indian side even rejected the foreign ministers’ meeting.

https://arynews.tv/en/pak-army-response-india-coas-statement/