India rejects Pak PM's offer of talks

India has reacted strongly to Pakistan Prime Minister's remarks at the UN and described them as non-factual and full of threat bluster.

Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar said, glorification of Hizbul terrorist by Nawaz Sharif at the world forum is an act of self-incrimination by Pakistan. Mr Akbar was addressing a press conference at the India's permanent mission in New York last night after Sharif's address to the UN General Assembly.

Mr Akbar criticised Sharif for glorifying the Hizbul terrorist who was killed in an encounter with security forces on July 8. He said, India will not succumb to blackmail tactics of the Pakistan government that seems eager to use terrorism as policy. Mr Akbar said, it is shocking that a leader of a nation can glorify a



self-advertised terrorist at such a forum.

Rejecting Sharif's offer to India to enter into a serious and sustained dialogue for the peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues, the minister said, talks and guns do not go together. Mr Akbar said, Pakistan at this moment seems to be run by a war machine rather than a government.External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup also said that Sharif's remarks show Pakistan's continued attachment to terrorism. In a tweet, Mr Swarup said, India's only condition for talks is an end to terrorism.

Meanwhile, the US has asked Pakistan to cooperate with India in probing the Uri terror attack. US Secretary of State John Kerry met Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the UN and they discussed the incident.