India and Pakistan in Diplomatic Spat... Again
So, India's Minister of External Affairs Shri S.M. Krishna visited Asia Society today to talk about India's strategic challenges and its future. His Pakistani counterpart was in the building last week, talking about Pakistan's numerous internal and external challenges. After a "he said-she said," or in this case, "he said-he said," a diplomatic spat of sorts surfaced earlier today.
In the latest India-Pakistan collision, Krishna, who answered some questions on bilateral relations with Pakistan and India's interest in Afghanistan, said, "It is with a sense of genuine disappointment that I react to the unacceptable references to the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir made by Foreign Minister Qureshi in his address to the UN earlier today. I am also aware that at this August forum (Asia Society) he had brought up the issue last week."
In his speech, Qureshi stressed that Kashmiris should be allowed "to exercise their right of self-determination through a plebiscite."
Yikes! But don't worry. Both countries have their hands full at the moment, so a new cold war is unlikely. More importantly, Krishna has extended an invitation to Qureshi to visit him in New Delhi, which was accepted. Here's hoping brighter, more prosperous days for the two nations in the nearer future.