I never called Singh a village woman: PM Sharif

Also denies charges that Pakistan was sponsoring terrorism in India

In an attempt to end a controversy over his purported remarks about his Indian counterpart, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that he never called Manmohan Singh a "village woman".

Sharif also denied charges that Pakistan was sponsoring terrorism in India, saying his country was itself a victim of the menace.

Just a day before the two Prime Ministers met on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York on Sunday, a Pakistani TV talk show host claimed Sharif had described Singh as a "dehati aurat" (village woman) during an informal chat over breakfast with journalists.

The talk show host withdrew his remarks after an Indian journalist, who too was present at the interaction, said Sharif had made no such remarks.

Sharif told the media in London that he never called Singh a "village woman", Pakistani dailies reported today. He said he was satisfied with the outcome of his meeting with Singh.

He said external forces were involved in terrorism inside Pakistan and "far from being a sponsor, Pakistan was actually a victim of a foreign-funded well organised wave of terrorism".

During his meeting with US President Barack Obama and in his speech at the UN General Assembly, Singh had referred to Pakistan as the "epicentre of terrorism".

Sharif said he had discussed with Singh "all important issues", including Kashmir, sharing of river waters, Siachen, Sir Creek and Balochistan.