FO denies Qureshi said Modi had called for dialogue

–Rejects Indian media reports challenging FM’s statement on Indian PM’s congratulatory note

Soon after newly-appointed Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Monday that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had hinted at resuming talks with Pakistan in his congratulatory message to Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Indian media claimed that the Indian PM’s letter doesn’t mention a call for ‘dialogue’.

According to Indian media reports that quoted ‘credible government sources’, Modi didn’t express his wish for dialogue in letter to Pakistan PM, but it did mention “India is committed to peaceful ties”.

Modi’s letter as shared by TimesNow states, “Polls and the smooth transition strengthen belief in democracy.” It adds that Modi said shared belief will bring peace and prosperity in the subcontinent and make it free from terrorism and violence.

It further quotes Indian PM Modi as saying “we have a commitment to build good neighbourly relations” and “pursue meaningful and constructive engagement for the benefit of people in the region.”

“The contents of the letter are what is usually written in a congratulatory letter. This is in contradiction to the claims made by the Pakistan Foreign Minister,” the report said.

FO CLARIFIES:

Rejecting Indian media claims, the Pakistani FO said in a statement later on Monday evening that Foreign Minister Qureshi never stated that “Indian Prime Minister made an offer of a dialogue”.

The FO statement said that the FM had not stated that “the Indian Prime Minister had made an offer of a dialogue”, but had said that the Indian premier in his letter to PM Imran Khan had also mentioned something similar to what the foreign minister elucidated earlier – that the way forward was only through constructive engagement.