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India, not Pak, blinked over resumption of talks: Qureshi

Last updated on: February 08, 2010 13:26 IST

Hours after India proposed dates for foreign secretary-level talks, Pakistan has claimed that it was New Delhi which had blinked over the matter, not Islamabad.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that it was India which had "talked about breaking their relationship with us and turning their back on us".

"But two days ago, India has approached us and said they want to sit and talk to us and want to resume their relationship with us," Qureshi told a public meeting in Multan in Punjab on Sunday.

"Pakistan hasn't knelt. It didn't kneel. Pakistan held its ground," the Pakistan foreign minister said.

Qureshi said that Pakistan would present its case before India claiming "our case is strong. It's not weak, whether it be Kashmir or water or any other issue."

Under the composite dialogue, eight issues, including Jammu and Kashmir and terrorism, were discussed in four rounds of talks. But India suspended the talks in the wake of the terror attack of Mumbai, which was planned and launched by Pakistani terrorists.

Qureshi also said that Islamabad would discuss all issues with India at the upcoming talks between the foreign secretaries..

The Delhi Times quoted Qureshi as saying that Pakistan would raise its own problems and "India would present their issues during the dialogue".

On being quizzed about Indian accusations of cross-border infiltration, Qureshi said sensitive issues would be discussed "on the table" rather than through the media.

Source: ANI