New Delhi [India]: India has reaffirmed its uncompromising stance on bilateral relations with Pakistan, making it clear that the only discussions to be held would concern Pakistan’s handover of wanted terrorists and vacating illegally occupied territories in Jammu and Kashmir, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.
Speaking at the weekly press briefing in New Delhi, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that any dialogue with Pakistan must be bilateral, and cannot proceed in the presence of cross-border terrorism.
“As far as our engagement with Pakistan is concerned, our stand has been clear. Any engagement has to be bilateral. We would like to reiterate that terrorism and talks cannot go together. They need to hand over to India the noted terrorists, whose records and list we submitted to them some years ago,” said Jaiswal.
PoK, Terrorism, and Water Issues: Core of India’s Policy
The MEA spokesperson firmly stated that any future discussions on Jammu & Kashmir would only be related to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
“Talks on J&K will be held only on the vacating of PoK and when Pakistan hands over the territory to us,” Jaiswal reiterated.
He further added that the Indus Water Treaty between the two nations would remain in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably ceases support to terrorism.
“Just like PM Narendra Modi says—terror and talks cannot go together, terror and trade cannot go together, and water and blood cannot flow together,” Jaiswal said.
PM Modi’s Recent Remarks: No Peace Without Dismantling Terror Infrastructure
Jaiswal’s statements echoed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address on May 12, where the PM held Pakistan squarely responsible for encouraging terrorism and warned of its consequences.
“The way the Pakistani army and Pakistan government are encouraging terrorism, it will destroy Pakistan one day. If Pakistan wants to survive, it will have to destroy its terror infrastructure. There is no other way to peace,” Modi had said.
The Prime Minister asserted that any possible future engagement would focus only on two themes:
- Ending terrorism
- Restoring Indian sovereignty over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir
India’s Diplomatic Response Post-Pahalgam Attack
In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, India has taken a series of diplomatic measures against Pakistan, including placing the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance. This marks a strategic recalibration of India’s approach to dealing with Pakistan, with a clear focus on accountability and national security.