'No point talking to India,' PM Imran says in interview with NYT
Amid rising tension over occupied Kashmir, Prime Minister Imran Khan has said there is "no point" talking to Indian officials, adding that his overtures for peace and dialogue with New Delhi so far have proven futile.
In an interview with The New York Times journalists Salman Masood and Maria Abi-Habib, published on Wednesday, Prime Minister Imran said: "There is no point in talking to them. I mean, I have done all the talking. Unfortunately, now when I look back, all the overtures that I was making for peace and dialogue, I think they took it for appeasement."
During the interview at the Prime Minister's Office in Islamabad, which NYT said was Imran's first with an international news organisation aimed at publicising anger over the situation in occupied Kashmir, the premier said: "There is nothing more that we can do."
The prime minister's remarks come after India stripped Kashmiris of their seven-decade-long special autonomy through a rushed presidential order on August 5. A communications blackout and heavy restrictions on movement imposed by the Indian authorities from the eve of the intervention entered their 18th day on Thursday. At least 4,000 people have been detained in Indian-occupied Kashmir since then.
The prime minister said that the "most important thing" was that the lives of eight million people were at risk.
"We are all worried that there is ethnic cleansing and genocide about to happen."
The premier described Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "a fascist and Hindu supremacist who intends to eradicate Kashmir's mostly Muslim population and populate the region with Hindus".
Prime Minister Imran, in his messages on Twitter since India's move to annex occupied Kashmir, has repeatedly said that the Indian government's policy in the Himalayan region is in line with the "ideology" of the Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) party — said to be a parent organisation of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — that believes in "Hindu supremacy".
While speaking to NYT, he expressed concern that India might undertake a deceptive "false-flag operation" in Kashmir to try to justify military action against Pakistan, adding that Pakistan would be forced to respond.
Read: World must wake up to India’s nuke threat, says PM
“And then you are looking at two nuclear-armed countries eyeball to eyeball, and anything can happen.
“My worry is that this can escalate and for two nuclear-armed countries, it should be alarming for the world what we are facing now.”
On August 14, while addressing a special session of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly, the premier had warned Modi that any action by India in Pakistan would be countered with a stronger response.
Read: 'Every brick will be countered with a stone,' PM Imran warns Modi against action in AJK
According to the article, the premier demanded that United Nations peacekeepers and observers be allowed in occupied Kashmir.
India rejects criticism
According to NYT, the Indian government did not immediately respond to Prime Minister Imran's comments. The Indian ambassador to the US Harsh Vardhan Shringla, however, rejected the criticism.
"Our experience has been that every time we have taken an initiative towards peace, it has turned out badly for us," he said, adding: "We expect Pakistan to take credible, irreversible and verifiable action against terrorism."
Read: US urges India to free detainees, restore rights in occupied Kashmir
The ambassador also claimed that things were going "back to normal" in occupied Kashmir.
"Restrictions are being eased based on the ground situation. Public utility services, banks and hospitals are functioning normally," he said.
"There are adequate food stocks. Some restrictions on communication are in the interests of safety and security of the citizenry."
Ordinary people in the region, however, continue to feel the impact of the restrictions.
Nazir Ahmad, a retired engineer who lives in Srinagar, told The Associated Press on Saturday that residents were still facing difficulties in buying items such as vegetables, milk and medicine. He said his father is sick and needs a constant supply of medicine, which the family is finding difficult to procure.
“There is no internet, no telephone, no communication, no transportation,” said Ahmad, describing the situation as living through a “siege.”
“We are living like animals,” he said. “So I request everybody, please come and solve this situation. Nobody is coming out” of their homes.
Comments (107) Closed
As per Indian perception offer of talk and negotiation is considered sign of weakness. No more talk now with India.
IK is bold and straightforward. He is single handily exposing India and Modi here and there. Clearly Indian govt are rattled by his tweets and now this interview. Finally a dedicated PM of Pakistan knows what to talk.
To be or not to be, that is the question... William Shakespeare.
Good. Now there is agreement on disagreements. Nobody wants to talk to each other. Will surely bring peace as 70 years of talking has been counter productive.
Thats what you call a true leader Pakistan lucky to have a great leader like Imran khan.
we are proud of our PM Imran Khan
How India is missing the silent Nawaz.
PM is right and his words truly represent how 200+ million Pakistanis and 10+ million Kashmiris feel. No one can have a logical and reasonable discussion with the RSS fascists who are now in control of India which is a brutal force occupying Kashmir
India will regret not listening to Imran Khan while he talked softly.
come on indians start the circus here now, my day doesnt feel good until i read and laugh off your insane, naive comments.
India always back off from dialogues with Pakistan by falsely accusing Pakistan of terrorism. The only point they make to justify their stance to turn down talking to Pakistan. All terrorist activities happening in Pakistan are funded and master minded by India. Pakistan has Indian spy in custody, which is a valid proof of India's involvement in subversive activities in Baluchistan and across Pakistan.
Thank you, Don't waste time and energy, keep focus on Pak welfare economy and education of people.
Brilliant interview
Listen to the citizens. They are miserable and dejected.
Yes, no more talks
This is a true reflection of a great leader.
NYT is known to fish in troubled waters.
Based on past historical facts and figures, he is 100 percent right.
Khan Sb is right here. Nobody can talk to a wall.
Fascist Modi is putting India's existence in extreme danger!
Going by facts that is absolutely true and PM Imran Khan is right.
No doubt Modi is a fascist. The world knows but they don't say anything because of India's financial power.
The statement of the indian ambassador to the US is laughable. How can he lie that things are back to normal in occupied Kashmir?
I'm glad that our PM has understood the Hindustan Governments stand. We should never have given them the benefit of doubt, we should learn from past History and know them for their treacherous and back stabbing ways.
This is how a true statesman speaks. He tried his level best to engage India through dialogue but India responded the way cowards do; take it as a weakness. Make no mistake, WAR is no option..other than that I stand with my PM.
Great views of PMIK and Indian hypocrisy and fascism well exposed.
I hope its a policy shift and not just a statement. I fully support the PM in not talking to India anymore until such time that this Hindu supremacist government is in power. I also would like the PM to announce that Indian High Commission in Islamabad to be vacated immediately and all Indian staff return to their country. No point in keeping any Indian diplomat in Pakistan.
no use commenting .. dawn is biased anyway
imran khan zindabad
Right, no talk with India without other side invitation and interest.
Well said
Mr Khan should talk to the leaders of the opposition parties of India. Cutting of communication is not a good strategy. If opposition gets to power in 2024, India and Pakistan can have better relations. So please don't cut communication 100%. Engage Mrs Gandhi, Mr Kejriwal, Mr Stalin, Ms Mamata Banerjee, Mr Akhilesh Yadav, Mr Sharad Pawar, Mr Raj Thakray, Mr Lalu Prasad etc. They all hate BJP.
Spot on.
No longer the time or place.
Bravo Imran Khan.
Finally you arrive at the conclusion which is known to everybody since day one that the Indians under the BJP government understand just one language.
This is good news
Excellent interview by PMIK. Most Pakistanis have known for many years that any attempt to build ties with Hindustan was a complete waste of time, but to Khan's credit, he made a sincere attempt. Now we can be sure that washing our hands of this vile, despicable nation is the best course of action.
Enjoy.
Talk about what?
@Ash Man , What peace talks are you referring to ?
Kool, remember this when guys want to discuss indus water treaty.
@Amused , this is a good news for india.
@Haseeb Khan, we are waiting pakistan to do it. So that you can see our reaction
very good decision ;)
@sixes ,
A valid point well made.
what a relief,both sides reached a c common ground "no talks".
@Gaz, and what has the vocal Imran done? apart from talking and tweeting?
Thank you
Wait for a U-turn.
@salman, IK has no other option.
There is point in talking if you are realistic about what talks will achieve.
"No point in talking to India".... This is provided, India wants to talk in the first place.
Same thing we are saying from long time Now you got it
First time in one year he is talking sense.
Good for you Honarable PM
Please do talk to India if the prime agenda includes a Kashmir solution acceptable to Pakistan.
Beautiful, awaiting our supreme commander PMIKs decision. Salutes to PMIK
Is he angry because Modi dint find it necessary to even respond to him?
No more talks, time for action.
the premier said: "There is nothing more that we can do." Good .That would give you time and money to concentrate on pressing internal matters.
@salil, So very true
Balanced and strong words from PM. Very well handled and well done.
@salman, I agree
Well done Mr PM
@I am Pakistani, who asked
The true face of India is exposed to the world. Wello done PM IK,
I am just relieved we don't have PML or PPP in power it would be a disaster.
@salman, they are only good at shouting over the rooftops.
Apparantly, we only talk to potential donors...
@Babar,
Same here.
Great leader Imran Khan.
@Rehman, Waiting for your action....
Imran Khan has decided something which will be welcomed by Modi.
@AW, i wouldn't describe them as brutal, at least not the local ones.
@Yassir, exactly, they don't talk, they try to blackmail and bribe.
IK has spoken very well and he is handing this issue very diligently and world is seeing the true face of India's terrorist activities and atrocities for so called world largest democratic country.
India has and always hated muslims. I am not surprised by what PM Modi is doing to have Hindu majority in Kashmir as well.
I wonder why he said that
@Ash Man , well said
@Gaz, India is not missing any Nawaz
@Junaid Imran Mahmood, PML and PPP could not have been bigger disaster than PTI. India was never interested in talking to IK. He realised this after one full year. Slow-witted but handsome PM.
Sour grapes.
@salman,
Diplomacy does not work with tweets , number of tweets and tweeter followers does not amount to any thing
@Fastrack,
We are scared , Please pardon us
Good. Now stop begging for talks.
Some people takes long time to understand a simple thing.
Who wants to talk
Excellent interview.
Thank you PMIK --From India
Isn't that what India has been saying all along? that they didn't see any point in talking to pakistan? finally we found the ONE thing we both can agree on!
@Dr. Asif Kidwai, unfortunately his unfounded rhetorics have no takers except in Pakistan. Trump just gave him a warning but slow witted selected PM cannot get the message. PTI a complete disaster.
@ashok, Modi is schrewd and calculated and will respond only when absolutely necessary.
@Lakshmi, most news papers are struggling to survive in this age of social media and will try report some controversial news to sensationalise and get readership. Only the naive and uninitiated jump to such news.
@Intelligent Nawab, are you intelligent? Then recheck information on social media from across the world and don't depend on local news and unfounded rhetorics by politicians.
Our land! Our teriitory! Who is Imran Khan?
Excellent- music to Modi’s ears....
@Haseeb Khan, : totally agree. As an Indian, I wish there is never any diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan going forward. Complete waste of time...
Imran Khan should not handle diplomacy or foreign relations.
He would fail miserably as he had niether the temperament nor the ability for it.
Of late I am convinced that all the problems in Pakistan are over and only problem left is issue of Kashmir.
True! Nothing to talk about. Pakistan's life line (the Kashmir) is now out of the life support.
Hope IK has finally understood this. India is not interested in talks with pakistan. Please move on.
@Raj Singh Chouhan, Jaipur, As a Pakistani, I salute you for this eminently sensible answer! Thank you!
They would talk soon rest assured and be positive.
@Dr. Asif Kidwai, 80% of Indian Muslims voted for the creation of Pakistan but only 5% moved to Pakistan. 200million Muslims call India home. Modi never said anything based on caste or religion.
@Babar, You have already started .
Did India said, they want to talk to Pakistan ? If Yes for What ?
Pakistan should understand Israel, Saudi and UAE are behind India`s latest move. Saudi and UAE no longer friends of pakistan. They approved indian atrocity in kashmir and all over Indian subcontinent. Muslim world should unite these zionist regime.