India, Pakistan at UN trade blame over failed bid for talks

United Nations - It would have been the first meeting in nearly three years.

India and Pakistan traded insults at the United Nations on Saturday after plans for a rare meeting between the foreign ministers in New York fell through.
India cancelled the talks offered by Pakistan's new Prime Minister Imran Khan following an attack that Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said had killed three Indian soldiers.
Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, the Indian foreign minister denied that her government had sought a pretext to derail the offer to sit down with her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
"We are accused of sabotaging the process of talks," she said. "This is a complete lie."
Swaraj slammed Pakistan for offering "spawning grounds for terrorism."
The Pakistani foreign minister shot back that India had called off talks three times - "each time on flimsy grounds."
"They preferred politics over peace," said Qureshi.
Qureshi said Imran Khan's election two months ago had brought about "a fundamental shift" in Pakistan, which is seeking dialogue to resolve disputes between the two countries.
Indian media said the meeting between the foreign ministers would have been the first in nearly three years.

• India
• Pakistan