Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Friday accused the talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leaders of Kashmir as a “public relations exercise”, which yielded nothing.
Qureshi said Thursday’s talks were an attempt to restore the prestige of India and Prime Minister Modi internationally “in the wake of India’s repressive measures in Kashmir on August 5, 2019, when the region’s special autonomy was denied. was removed”.
“In my view, it was a play and why was it a play? Because at the most it can be called a public relations exercise but nothing has been achieved (from it),” Pakistan’s daily Dawn quoted Foreign Minister Qureshi as saying at a press conference in Islamabad.
Qureshi said that “failed and futile” talks will yield nothing.
“Kashmiris are still in search of their identity. They are demanding their autonomous status and independence. They want security and are not accepting demographic reorganization.”
Stating that Kashmiri politicians had unanimously called for a reversal of the steps taken during the meeting on August 5, 2019, Qureshi said: “We can clearly analyze from the discourse that has emerged that they are in the state. Wishing a complete restoration. “
The foreign minister said the politicians did not get any concrete response to their demands, instead they were told that statehood could be restored at an opportune time.
“It is very unclear. What is an opportune time? Two years have passed and how many more Kashmiris will have to sacrifice their lives?” He asked.
The External Affairs Minister further said that the talks raised the lack of confidence and trust of Kashmiris as well as the anger and pain being felt by them.
Alleging that the discussions have shown the current conditions in Kashmir contrary to New Delhi’s claims of “development and prosperity”, Qureshi said: “Therefore the perception is not that prosperity has come or will come. Only destruction has come. “
Pakistan’s foreign minister’s remarks came a day after Prime Minister Modi held an all-party meeting with leaders of Jammu and Kashmir to deliberate on the political progress in the union territory, following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
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