Sharif's statement reflects Pak's 'continued attachment to terrorism': India

With Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif yet again showering praise on killed Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, India on Wednesday said the former's statement reflects Islamabad's "continued attachment to terrorism".

Disapproving Sharif's remark, government sources put forth New Delhi's views in this regard.

Sharif earlier in the day accused India of stalling the dialogue process and urged world powers to ensure that UN resolutions on Kashmir are implemented.

Addressing a joint session of Parliament on 'Kashmir issue' in Islamabad, Sharif said, "The death of Burhan Wani, son of the Kashmiri soil, had reminded India to give Kashmiris their right to self-determination."

Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech last month challenging Pakistan to a contest over eradicating poverty and other social ills, Sharif said, "If they (Indian leaders) want us to fight them to end poverty, then they should realise that poverty cannot be eradicated by driving tanks on farmlands."

Addressing the nation at the backdrop of a three-day BJP conclave held in Kozhikode last month, Prime Minister Modi slammed Pakistan for exporting terrorism across the world and said, "While India exports software, Pakistan exports terrorism across the world."

"Your (Pakistani) rulers speak of fighting India for a thousand years. Today, there is such a government in Delhi that I am ready to accept your challenge... Pakistan's 'awam' (people), I want to say to you, India is ready to fight you," Prime Minister Modi had said.

"Come, if you have the courage, let's fight poverty...unemployment.illiteracy. Let us fight and see who is able to end poverty first," he added.

Prime Minister Sharif today said, "We have done everything to make India come to the dialogue table, but India did not let it happen. Our efforts were thwarted over and over again."

He also accused India of running away from dialogue and instead creating a war-like environment by blaming Pakistan for the Uri terror attack in which 19 Indian soldiers were killed last month.

"We have done everything to make India come to the dialogue table, but India did not let it happen. Our efforts were thwarted over and over again," Sharif claimed.

"Without any investigation (into Uri incident), within a few hours, India blamed Pakistan for the attack," he said.

Sharif accused India of having some "motives" in blaming Pakistan for the Uri attack when it was "not even established" that who was involved in it.

The Pakistan Prime Minister also expressed support for Kashmiris and said the issue should be resolved according to the wishes of people of Kashmir and the UN resolutions.

Raking up the Kashmir issue at the United Nations General Assembly last month, Sharif had called Wani a "young leader", evoking a strong reaction from India.

The Hizbul Mujahideen commander was killed in an encounter with the Indian security forces on July 8, sparking off protests in the valley.