Won't succumb to blackmail, tactics of 'war machine' Pak: India

New York [United States], Sept. 22 (ANI): Branding Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's address at the United Nations General Assembly as 'immature' and full of 'threats', Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar scoffed at Islamabad for wanting dialogue while holding a gun, adding India will never succumb to their tactics and blackmail. Addressing a press conference here moments after Sharif's address, Akbar stated that Pakistan at the moment seems to be run by a war machine rather than a government. "Pakistan wants dialogue while holding a gun a terrorist gun in its hand. Talks and guns don't go together. Our position on a dialogue has been consistent. We have always been ready for a dialogue, but we will not succumb to the blackmail and tactics of a government in Islamabad that seems eager to use terrorist and terrorism as policy," he said. Reacting to the Pakistan Premier's glorification of slain Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani in his address, the Union Minister asserted it was shocking that the leader of a nation can glorify a self declared, self- identified terrorist at such a forum. "We heard the glorification of a terrorist. Burhan Wani is a self declared Commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen. This organisation is widely acknowledged as a terrorist group internationally. This is self incrimination by the Pakistan Prime Minister," Akbar said. Coming down heavily on Sharif's address in which he attacked India over Jammu and Kashmir, he further said that the speech was simply full of threats and missing facts. "The only occupation in Jammu and Kashmir, which is a part of India, is the occupation of a part of Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan's occupation Army. The world also knows that Pakistan has indulged in ethnic cleansing of its own people," he said. Akbar emphasised that Islamabad's consistent use of war and terrorism has been at the cost of development of the people of Pakistan, adding that the people there are paying the price of a malevolent policy. Defending Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policy with Pakistan from charges of being unsure and always see-sawing, the MoS stated that the former's policy with the hostile neighbour has been consistent since day one. "In the very first invitation that was extended to the SAARC leaders, it was made clear that India was always ready for a dialogue with anyone, but not if there was any use of terrorism. You will recall even in the first weeks that the dialogue process was disrupted because India's stand has been unfavouring and unchanging," he said. Extending his full support to the protests being carried out by Baloch activists across the globe, Akbar said that the Baloch people have every reason for protest against a policy of serious hostility against them, which has a very long history of violence that has included the use of Air Force and massive Armed Forces against them. The Pakistan Prime Minister earlier told the United Nations that his country wants peace with India but asserted there can be no peace and normalization of relations between the two Asian neighbours until the Kashmir issue is fully resolved. "Peace and normalization between Pakistan and India cannot be achieved without a resolution of the Kashmir dispute. This is an objective evaluation, not a partisan position," said Sharif while addressing the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). He said that talks are necessary for solving all pending disputes including Kashmir with India while adding that Islamabad would accept any pre-conditions. "Talks are no favor to Pakistan. Talks are in the interest of both countries. They are essential to resolve our differences, especially the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, and to avert the danger of any escalation. But India has posed unacceptable preconditions to engage in a dialogue," he said. He further extended his support to Kashmiris and went on to glorify slain Hijbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani as a young leader, who has become the face of the Kashmiri movement. "Burhan Wani, the young leader murdered by Indian forces, has emerged as the symbol of the latest Kashmiri Intifada, a popular and peaceful freedom movement, led by Kashmiris," said Sharif. The Prime Minister said Islamabad fully supports the demand of the Kashmiri people for self-determination as promised to them by several Security Council resolutions and urged the United Nations to intervene and assist in solving the Kashmir dispute. "The Security Council has called for the exercise of the right to self- determination by the people of Jammu and Kashmir through a free and fair plebiscite held under the UN auspices. The Security Council must honour its commitments by implementing its own decisions," he said. He further demanded an independent inquiry and a UN fact finding mission to investigate the situation in Kashmir. The dialogue between both sides was suspended after an attack on an Indian air base at Pathankot earlier in January which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based militants. (ANI)