Following the speech of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) summit, India has hit back at Pakistan with all guns blazing. Responding to Prime Minister Sharif’s statement at UNGA session, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar refuted Pakistan’s claims of going “the extra mile” in engaging with India. He further added that talks could not be held with guns and blackmail. “Pakistan wants dialogue while holding a terrorist gun in its hand. Talks and guns don’t go together. Our position on a dialogue has been consistent.” Sharif had earlier accused India of putting “unacceptable conditions” for peace talks during his speech. Akbar further added that India has always been ready for dialogue, but will not succumb to the tactics of Islamabad that seem eager to use terrorism as its policy. The mention of Burhan Wani as a youth leader by Sharif in his speech also angered the authorities in New Delhi. Akbar hit out at Nawaz for glorifying Wani.
