India slams Pakistan's charge of rejecting peace overtures

India on Friday slammed Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's charge that New Delhi has rejected his peace overtures, saying Pakistani ministers continue to share public platforms with internationally recognised terrorists.

"Why do their ministers continue to share public platforms with internationally recognised terrorists," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in response to a question at a media briefing here.

Stating that there are several instances of this, Kumar said that on September 30, 2018, Pakistan's Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony shared a platform with Hafiz Saeed, chief of terror outfit Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD).

"Then again in December 2018, Pakistan's Interior Minister (Sheryar Afridi) met JuD representatives," he said.

He also asked why no action has been taken by Pakistan against the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai and 2016 Pathankot cross-border terror attacks.

"Why do they allow terrorists to use their soil? In 2018, the JuD opened centres in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir," the spokesperson said.

"This shows that terrorists continue to receive support from Pakistan."

Khan had recently said in an interview to a Turkish news agency that India has repeatedly rejected his peace overtures.

As for Khan's remarks about persecution of religious minorities in India, Kumar said: "Pakistan should be the last country to talk about plurality and an inclusive society."