Pakistan: India to have strictly bilateral relations, asserts EAM Jaishankar
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: Amid US President Donald Trump’s multiple attempts to take credit for ‘brokering’ peace between India and Pakistan and offers to mediate in the Jammu and Kashmir matter, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday reiterated that New Delhi’s relations and dealings with Islamabad will be “strictly bilateral,” which is a national consensus for many years and there is “absolutely no change” in that consensus, the media reported.
Interacting with reporters on the sidelines of an event in the national capital, he also said the UN Security Council had underlined the need to hold the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack accountable, and on May 7 morning, “we held them accountable through the Operation Sindoor.”
India carried out precision strikes on terror infrastructure early on May 7 following which Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9 and 10. The Pakistani actions were strongly responded to by the Indian side.
Their fierce cross-border conflict—just short of a full-fledged war—was suspended on May 10 with a bilateral understanding on stopping the military actions when the panicked Pakistan’s Director-General of Military Operations (DGMO) dialled his Indian counterpart, requesting a ‘ceasefire. By then Pakistan had suffered huge losses amid death of more than 100 terrorists and several men-in-uniform.
“To me these things are fairly clear. So, let me take this opportunity to spell out our position. One, where Pakistan is concerned, our relations, our dealings with them will be bilateral, and strictly bilateral.
“That is a national consensus for many years, and there is absolutely no change in that consensus that dealings with Pakistan will be bilateral, Dr. Jaishankar said.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it “very clear” that any talks with Pakistan will be only on terror.
“…Pakistan has a list of terrorists, who need to be handed over. They have to shut down terrorist infrastructure, they know what to do,” the EAM asserted.
Dr. Jaishankar said New Delhi is “prepared to discuss” with Islamabad what is to be done on terrorism.
On the J&K issue, he said, “the only thing that remains to be discussed is Islamabad’s vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
“We are open to discuss it with Pakistan…the government position is very, very clear.”
About US President Donald Trump’s claims that India has offered “literally zero tariff” on American products, Dr. Jaishankar clarified that trade talks between India and the United States are still in progress and far from being finalised.
