New Delhi– India reaffirmed on Thursday that any dialogue with Pakistan must be strictly bilateral and reiterated that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) will remain suspended until Pakistan “credibly and irreversibly” ends its support for cross-border terrorism.
“Any engagement between India and Pakistan has to be bilateral,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a weekly media briefing in New Delhi. “At the same time, let me reiterate: talks and terrorism cannot go hand in hand. On the issue of terrorism, as I’ve stated earlier, we remain open to discussions on the extradition of wanted terrorists whose names were shared with Pakistan years ago.”
Jaiswal further emphasized that any bilateral discussions on Jammu and Kashmir would be limited solely to the issue of Pakistan vacating Indian territory it currently occupies illegally.
“Regarding the Indus Waters Treaty, I repeat: it will stay in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably ceases its support for cross-border terrorism. As our Prime Minister has said, water and blood cannot flow together—nor can trade and terror,” he added.
India’s statement came hours after Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif suggested Saudi Arabia as a neutral venue for dialogue, and proposed that the United States mediate the process.
Speaking to journalists in Islamabad, Sharif said that any future talks between India and Pakistan would take place at the National Security Advisor (NSA) level and would focus on four key issues: Kashmir, water, terrorism, and trade.
Sharif also noted that tensions between the two countries have been gradually easing since the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMO) on both sides resumed communication.
“If talks are to happen, Pakistan’s National Security Advisor will lead our delegation. Saudi Arabia could serve as a neutral venue, with the U.S. taking a lead mediation role. However, India has so far rejected the idea of any neutral ground for discussions,” he stated.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reinforced India’s tough stance, declaring that there will be no talks or trade with Pakistan unless it ends its illegal occupation of Kashmir.
“If there are to be any talks, they will be about Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). If Pakistan continues exporting terrorism, it will be left begging for every penny and will not receive a single drop of Indian water,” PM Modi said at a large public rally in Bikaner, Rajasthan.
He further warned, “Playing with the blood of Indians will cost Pakistan dearly.” (Source: IANS)
