 New Delhi : Former external affairs minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Yashwant Sinha on July 16 reacted angrily to Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi's claims that India was not ready for talks with its neighbour.
"Qureshi is clearly making a point to India, interfering in our internal affairs. Indian External Affairs Minister (SM Krishna) told them clearly that the issue of Kashmir cannot be discussed because it is an internal issue. They can't call us on Kashmir. It is totally unacceptable to India," said Sinha.
He lashed out at Qureshi saying, "I would regard this as breach of trust by the Foreign Minister of Pakistan. It is disappointing to hear him criticise the External Affairs Minister of India. Dialogue is fine but before we go to the dialogue of this kind we must assess that it will bridge the gaps or create more gaps."
Sinha said that Krishna should "brief the press immediately on Pakistani soil" and reply to Pakistani Foreign Minister immediately. "Why did he keep quiet?" he asked. "If the External Affairs Minister is still on the Pakistani soil, it should have been a joint presser," he said.
He blamed Krishna for not taking a strong stand and agreeing to the Pakistani view on Mumbai terror attacks. "Everyone knows that ISI in Pakistan is involved in Mumbai terror attacks. We should not have apologised for it," he said.
Pointing out that dialogue with Pakistan was the only way forward Sinha said that Qureshi's attack on Krishna and his stubbornness to include Kashmir in any talks should be an eye opener for those who advocate talks with Pakistan. He claimed that a dialogue of this kind will lead to further "tensions between India and Pakistan".
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