COPENHAGEN, May 31 – Former Union minister MJ Akbar delivered a stinging criticism of Pakistan, questioning the utility of dialogue with what he called a “double-faced nation” while addressing the Indian diaspora in Copenhagen. He was part of an all-party delegation led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad.
“Which face are we supposed to talk to? Pakistan’s government speaks with a forked tongue — which one do we respond to?” Akbar asked, responding to frequent calls from international observers urging India to engage with Pakistan.
He accused Islamabad of using dialogue as a cover for preparing terror attacks. “Talks with Pakistan are nothing but a bluff,” he said. “They use this period to prepare for the next terrorist strike.”
In a hard-hitting analogy, Akbar remarked, “A snake is never killed by its own poison,” highlighting how Pakistan’s support for terrorism endangers others and itself.
Akbar said India is no longer interested in talks for the sake of talks, but will instead focus on substantive issues, including criminal accountability and the true status of occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy stance, calling it a historic moment. “Modi has brought Pakistan to its senses,” Akbar said, while branding Pakistan a nation with a “genetic disorder” rooted in murder and terrorism.
He concluded by saying, “Neighbours are not defined by distance, but by reach,” in a nod to Modi’s redefined diplomatic outreach.
