'Terror And Talks Can’t Go Together': India Reiterates It's Firm Stand Amid Tensions With Pakistan
India maintains a firm stance against engaging with Pakistan until it ceases supporting cross-border terrorism and hands over wanted terrorists.
Amid tension between India and Pakistan, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said that there has been "no change on stand with Pakistan". Addressing a press conference, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "India's stand on ceasefire was made clear on May 17. Pakistan must end terror. Terrorism and talks can't go together."
"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, noted terrorists, whose records and list we submitted to them some years ago. Talks on J&K will be held only on the vacating of PoK and when Pakistan hands over the territory to us," Jaiswal said.
Speaking on the Indus Water Treaty, Jaiswal said that as far as the Indus Water Treaty is concerned, it will remain in abeyance till Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.
"As far as the Indus Water Treaty is concerned, it will remain in abeyance till the time Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support to cross-border 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.
The tension between India and Pakistan escalated after 26 civilians were gunned down in Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22. It led to the Indian Armed Forces launching strikes on nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under Operation Sindoor on May 7.
Pakistan too also launched drones following the action by India and launched drones and missile strikes on several bordering areas in India, including in Jammu-Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan. India also retaliated and targeted Pakistan’s airbases and other regions.
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