India stuck in modalities during SMK-Qureshi talks: Pak

Just hours after Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi charged India of being underprepared for the foreign ministerial level talks, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit also aped the minister, saying Islamabad wanted to evolve a roadmap to discuss all issues but New Delhi was not prepared to do so.

In an interview to a private television channel, Basit said India was stuck in modalities during the Krishna-Qureshi meeting on Thursday.

“Pakistan wanted to take the process of talks forward on the core issues, but unfortunately the other side was not ready,” The Daily Times quoted Basit, as saying.

Basit, however, admitted that Islamabad is yet to provide evidence to India regarding its alleged involvement in Baloch insurgency.

“As far as evidence about India’s involvement in Balochistan is concerned, it will be shared with India at an appropriate time, as stated by Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani,” Basit said.

It may be noted that external Affairs Minister S M Krishna had rejected Pakistan’s claims over New Delhi’s involvement in the Balochistan violence during the delayed joint press conference with Qureshi on Thursday.

“Not a shred of evidence has been provided,” Krishna had said.

Basit said Pakistan would brief US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton about the Indo-Pak talks during her visit next week.