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"India, which had broken off the composite dialogue process and spoken of severing contacts with Pakistan, has come to us and sought talks. We never kneeled before them and did not bow to their pressure," Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told a gathering in his hometown of Multan in Punjab province on Sunday.
He, however, said that Pakistan will go ahead with the talks because it has a "strong case" on several outstanding issues, including Kashmir and sharing of river waters.
The minister's remarks comes close on the heels of India proposing talks between Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir suggesting either February 18 or 25 for holding the meeting. The talks were suspended after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
Qureshi claimed India had tried to isolate Pakistan diplomatically but had failed due to the "effective" policies pursued by Islamabad.
Pakistan will not tolerate any pressure and will protect its interests, he asserted.
Qureshi will chair several meetings this week to assess the Indian proposal and finalise an agenda for the talks. The minister recalled that he was in New Delhi at the time of the Mumbai attacks in November 2008.
"I still stand by the stance Pakistan had taken at that time," he said. Pakistan had condemned the 26/11 attacks.
"Our stance was principled and based on truth," he said, adding that Pakistan itself had faced several challenging situations during the past two years.
Terrorists were targeting mosques and religious processions but the government is determined to crush terrorism and would not let terrorists succeed in their nefarious designs, Qureshi said.
Pakistan's armed forces have launched successful operations against terrorists and an international conference on Afghanistan held recently in London had commended the country's role in the war on terror and acknowledged the sacrifices rendered by the people and the military, he said.
In a brief interaction with the media after the meeting, Qureshi said all issues will be discussed during the upcoming talks with India.
Pakistan will put up its problems and India will present its issues during the parleys, he said. Asked to comment on India's contention that cross-border infiltration of militants had increased in the recent past, Qureshi said all issues will be discussed at the negotiating table and not through the media.
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Qureshi is spreading poison in his society. If anti India rhetoric is the only glue and the way to glory. There will never ever be peace between these two countries. Qureshi has set an example which will be emulated by other who will join politics in Pakistan in the years ahead. Feeding Poison to you home constituency will not convert into milk and honey for your neighbors. This is proof enough if there was any need, why a dialogue should not be entered into with Pakistan. Not just this Qureshi has effectively also killed the efforts of Aman Ki Asha by Jang of Pakistan and TOI. Our war on terror must not and cannot be subjugated to America%u2019s war on terror. Our actions are not matching our words. How are we protecting our National Interest by getting into dialogue? Where are those who had pledged to protect our Supreme National Interest ?
May be the govt of India is listening to SRK?Have good relations with our neighbors even if they insist on terrorizing the Indians ,after all SRK has a soft corner for his brothers from Pakistan.
The vision of the Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Querashi is clear that, What vision , desire ,is of Pakistan's Government towards India . No doubt the Younger Generation had always desired that tension be defused by bi-leteral talks , peace talks so that both the countries trade may flourish and come closer to each other in future , but the statement is clear that Pakistan's stand towards India is in Question as What message they want to give to there countrymen in regard to the relationship with India for what they are committed . India leaders have time to time framed allegations of playing Proxy war on Pakistan through Ilfiltration and boosting Terrorism . The Pakistan's Prime Minister should clarify on this issue that dialouge talks are to maintain peace , Trade , Law and order in the sub contienent and curb Terrorism .Pakistan Government should comeforward with a concrete message in this regard keeping in view the future relations with India .
Like them or hate them, one must give credit to these Pakistani politicians. Their country is a heap of dung, and yet, they have managed to outsmart the Indian leadership by convincing the world to back them with political, military and moral support. They have armed their military without spending a penny, stimulated their bankrupt economy, and done nothing to punish the Mumbai attackers or dismantle the terrorist infrastructure. The diplomatic approach that MMS and his Goverment took in dealing with the Mumbai attacks is a dismal failure. The world got tired of Indian whinning. Every week the Indians drew a new line in the sand, and the Pakistanis crossed them with impunity. And now, Indias strategic partner, the USA, basically summons India to the negotiating table to talk with Pakistan to protect the US and Pakistani security interests. This, inspite of the core Indian condition of the punishing of Mumbai attackers not having been met. The Indian leadership has failed miserably.
One wonders as to what compulsions were forced upon us and by whom that we had to suddenly, out of the blue, extend this call for talks to pakistan. It must be remembered that we went ahead while media was reporting the conference of militant groups in POK and the openly made anti india statements.Where are our responsible opposition parties and why is nobody questioning the government.
You are reeling in an abyss of excrement as a nation, and yet you talk big. The world and its people spit at you for your terrorism and islamic poverty, yet you parade your ego. Your friends in China, Saudi & N Korea cannot help you anymore. Your fading embers as a nation will be a lesson to those who choose a violent, brainless path. Die, in peace.
Now atleast all Indian should understand why Shiv Sena is against Pakistani Player to Play in India.As all we know Pakistan is supporting Terrorism from Decades and after 26/11 every single person in the world knows about Pakistan and their mentality and still if we will ask Pakistani Players or Pakistani Actor or Actress or any other person to visit India, what guaranty we give that he/she (coming from Pakistan) is not associated with terrorist (ex. Hadley).Meeting in POK & in Pakistan are still going on, where Terrorist are Planning for new Terror attack in India and Pakistani Govt. is supporting them as we know.Indian Ministers are ready to talk with Pakistan for peace and Today Pakistani Ministers are saying that India is helpless in front of them and ready to talk (08/02/2010 statement of Pakistani Minister).Please I request Indian Govt. to stop all kind of relationship with Pakistan till the time They stop supporting Terrorism and do such comments.
Why is govt not taking public opinion whether we need to talk to pakistan and then make a decision whether we need pakistan as a neighbour or friend.
Except cheap rhetorics or cheap talk against India, Pakistan has terrorism, but nothing else.Its citizen has not only terrorised India, but the entire world. India should not give another chance to Pakistan, but help the allied forces to finish all pathatic looking terrorists in Pakiland.
I can't understand why our politicians agree for talks. It is the senseless decision taken by our PM. We should cancel all talks with Pakistan. We have to pressurize this Govt. otherwise they will do these childish decision again and again.
The anti India rhetoric smacks of arrogance, which the Pakis are known for. In fact they have been doing it for the past 6 decades in front of their countrymen just to keep their seats in tact.The anti India bandwagon gives them such satisfaction that they even forget the damage it has done to their own national and social character. Look what a mess they are in. If unchecked, this tendency is further going to push them in the dump.
Mr PM, HM, EAM etc are you guys listening, is this what we get when we extend an alove branch, when will you people stop taking decesions that hurts any degnified and proud Indians, whos given you the authority to start the talks, now go and hang yopueselfs as once again your peace overtures has back fired
All politicians when they are before their home crowd will utter what Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told a gathering in his Home constituency Multan "We have not knelt before India: Pakistan". Mr Qureshi no body asked you to kneel before India and it is your imagination and that of pakistan! What India said simply is that punish 26/11 Perpetrators. If Pakistan does not do even this what is the difference between Chengis Khan or Nadir Shah or Tugalaq and Modern day Pakistan.You statement have proved that Pakistan hase`nt changed a BIT. One of your predecessors stated in the old days that we will eat grass if we have problem with our economy and fight thru Jihad to capture Kashmir.Enlightened countries live amicably with the neighbours.It appears that pakistan as a country has ambitions which s not sustainable.Quereshi please retrace your steps and learn to live in peace and spread peace.Stop living in 14th century but live in 21st century!
Does it mean that the Pakisthan has used US as its front to put pressure on India to hold talks much against the denial of the Indian Prime Minister that no third party force in opening talks with Pak? It is confounding what situation has changed for the change in the Indian stand "No talks till the terrorism is effectively addressed by Pak in its soil'
India should cancell all talks with Pakistan if Qureshi wants to talk tough. Only Pakistan has all to lose, with India nothing to lose, if India chooses to severe ties with Pakistan.
A good response to India's initiative for talks which are inconclusive for the last 60 years. Pak's foreign minister has a very short memory. He forgot not one but 93,000 Pakistani army soldiers "Kneeled down" before Indian army in 1971 and Pak PM late Bhutto cried and begged for their release while kneeling down for days. Nevertheless, this statement of Pak foreign minister is a lesson for those Indians who want to start dialogue as an inefficient and impotents.
Pakistan will give up their mindset. Whether it was during the Bangladesh formation 90,000 Pak soilders surrendered to the Indian force, they still claimed that we did not kelt to India. It was then when the Indian forces, who crossed Lahore, still Pak said we did not keel. NOw they have yelling it just because China had gifted them with some Nuke bombs, (God know like every other Chinese product, if it will ever do its job) and other advanced weaponary from China. And the so beged US aid, have given them some exagerated yelling power to claim that we are still ahead of India. When you are still breeding terrorists in your own soil, why should India by any way speak to you. A common Indian is still against resuming the talks between the two countries. And if the Govt has taken a decision, then there should have a well thought reason for that. In the meanwhile, Pakistan authorities, whether the ISI who still keep printing more Indian currency than their own one, the ovt Authorities, who
What for the last 62 years what was the ruling congress doing. I know what? Just wasting time of Indian and Indian money going up and down to pakistan and staying in 5star hotel and partying. Congress is Indian's evil party who do not want to make law and order so that the minorties escape and do what they like.
Sure, Indian bollywood would do on behalf of Pakistan and media will do free publicity. It's shame for Pakistan not able to take any action against the terror elements. However, all Indian's will wait for another Wednesday! There will be sure a time will come when the movie "Wednesday" will turn to reality!