MEA spokesman Randhir Jaiswal
New Delhi: India has once again made it clear that there was intervention of third country in brokering ceasefire between New Delhi and Islamabad. It came after the United States president, Donald Trump, who has been repeatedly claiming credit for India-Pakistan truce.
India also reiterated that any engagement between two countries must be bilateral and on the condition that “talks and terror don’t go together.”
India’s stand on Kashmir
In his weekly media briefing, the External Affairs Ministry spokesman, Randhir Jaiswal also stated that any bilateral talks with Islamabad will only be on vacation of illegally occupied territories of Kashmir by Pakistan.
“You are well aware of our position that any India-Pakistan engagement has to be bilateral,” he said in response to a question on US President Donald Trump showing interest in helping India and Pakistan in resolving the Kashmir issue. ... I would like to remind you that talks and terror don’t go together,” Jaiswal said.
“On terrorism itself, we are open to discussing the handing over to India of terrorists whose list was provided to Pakistan some years ago,” he foreign ministry spokesman said.
Jaiswal added: “I would like to underline that any bilateral discussion on Jammu and Kashmir will only be on the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan.”
Asked about the Indus Waters Treaty, it will remain in abeyance till Islamabad stops supporting cross-border terrorism.
“It will remain in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism. As our prime minister has said ‘water and blood cannot flow together,’” he added.
India on April 23 announced a raft of punitive measures against Pakistan, including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, after the Pakistan-sponsored terror group carried out terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 that killed 28 innocent tourists.
