New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minster Imran Khan responded to the allegations made by India upon its cancellation of meeting of foreign ministers as a demonstration of “small men occupying big offices” with no vision for a “larger picture”.
India had on Thursday, September 20, accepted the proposal made by Imran Khan in a letter to Prime Minister Modi that Sushma Swaraj and S.M. Qureshi should meet on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Just a day later, India cancelled the plans, accusing Khan of revealing his “true face” due to the “latest killing” of Indian security personnel and the release of stamps of slain Hizbul Mujahideen leader Burhan Wani.
The Indian statement was scathing. “…it is obvious that behind Pakistan’s proposal for talks to make a fresh beginning, the evil agenda of Pakistan stands exposed and the true face of the new prime minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has been revealed to the world in his first few months in office,” said MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar on September 21.
In a tweet on Saturday afternoon, Khan also went the personal route.
“Disappointed at the arrogant & negative response by India to my call for resumption of the peace dialogue. However, all my life I have come across small men occupying big offices who do not have the vision to see the larger picture,” he posted on his Twitter account.
Last night, the Pakistan foreign ministry had described the comments on Khan as “against all norms of civilised discourse and diplomatic communication”.
Indian sources had justified the attack on Khan in the official statement, claiming that India was convinced that he had personally been behind the entire sequence of events.
Following his electoral victory on July 25, Khan and Modi had exchanged phone call and letters expressing interest in “constructive engagement”.