New Delhi, Sep 21 (UNI) Citing "evil agenda of Pakistan" and the disturbing developments including the killing of security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir, India on Friday unilaterally cancelled the proposed meeting of two foreign ministers Sushma Swaraj and Shah Mehmood Qureshi in New York next week.
"........the evil agenda of Pakistan stands exposed and the true face of the new Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has been revealed to the world in his first few months in office," MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar said in a strongly worded statement.
"Any conversation with Pakistan in such an environment would be meaningless," he said and referred to "disturbing developments" including the killings of Indian security personnel.
"Since yesterday’s announcement of a meeting between the Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan in New York later this month, two deeply disturbing developments have taken place. The latest brutal killings of our security personnel by Pakistan-based entities and the recent release of a series of twenty postage stamps by Pakistan glorifying a terrorist and terrorism confirm that Pakistan will not mend its ways," the MEA statement said.
Meanwhile, giving indications of tension mounting along Indo-Pak border, the Jammu and Kashmir government sources said in a fierce encounter at Shukbaba area in Sumlar village of Bandipora, security forces on Friday eliminated five terrorists belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba group.
"Huge quantity of arms, ammunition and incriminating material was recovered from the site of encounter," the source said.
In the morning hours, terrorists abducted three cops in District Shopian and later killed them brutally in an inhuman act of terror. The three slain cops were identified as Nisar Ahmad Dhobi son of Abdul Rashid resident of Kapren, Shopian, Firdous Kuchay son of Abdul Gani resident of Batagund, Shopian and Kulwant Singh son of Dhoop Singh resident of Batagund, Shopian.
"Preliminary investigation reveals the complicity of proscribed terror outfits Hizbul and LeT in this barbaric act of terror," a senior official said.

MEA spokesman Mr Kumar said: "The decision to agree to Pakistan’s proposal for a meeting between the Foreign Ministers of the two countries in New York later this month was in response to the spirit reflected in the letters from the new Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan. The letter from the Prime Minister of Pakistan had spoken of, inter alia bringing a positive change and mutual desire for peace as also readiness to discuss terrorism."
The statement further said - "Now, it is obvious that behind Pakistan’s proposal for talks to make a fresh beginning, the evil agenda of Pakistan stands exposed and the true face of the new Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has been revealed to the world in his first few months in office".
Therefore, the MEA statement said, "Any conversation with Pakistan in such an environment would be meaningless".
Taken aback by India’s decision, Pakistani Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry claimed Indian government is "divided" on the issues of peace talks with Pakistan.
“It seems that the Indian government is divided on the issue of negotiations....The world is watching: Pakistan stands for peace while Indian policies are being guided by extremist ideologies,” he wrote on Twitter.
The MEA's statement vis-a-vis postage stamps, however, remains a bit of explanation as the postal stamps glorifying terrorist was done way back in July. Moreover, BSF jawan Narendra’s Singh mutilated body was found near the international border in Jammu on September 18-19 but the MEA announcement to agree for Sushma-Qureshi talks in New York was made on September 21 afternoon.
Reports in Pakistani media said 'Pakistan Post' had issued 20 special postage stamps on July 24, carrying photos of Kashmiri terrorist Burhan Wani and his two associates.
Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was eliminated by Indian troops on July 8, 2016.
Interestingly, none other than Congress leader Kapil Sibal earlier in the day questioned the rationale behind the government giving its nod to the meeting between External Affairs Minister Ms Swaraj and her Pakistani counterpart.
"Pakistan se baat kya karenge aap (What really you want to talk to Pakistan)," Mr Sibal told reporters here.
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