Jaishankar on Pakistan: Era of uninterrupted dialogue is over

External affairs minister S Jaishankar

External affairs minister S Jaishankar has said that the era of "uninterrupted dialogue" is over with Pakistan, adding the actions by the neighbouring country has consequences.

Speaking at a book launch event in New Delhi, Jaishankar said that India will not pursue a passive approach when it comes to dealing with Pakistan.

"The era of uninterrupted dialogue with Pakistan is over. Actions have consequences. So far as J&K is concerned, Article 370 is done."

" ... so, the issue is what kind of relationship we can contemplate with Pakistan ... What I do want to say is that we are not passive, and whether events take a positive or a negative direction, either way, we will react," he said.

#WATCH | Speaking on Pakistan at a book launch event in Delhi, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar says, "The era of uninterrupted dialogue with Pakistan is over. Actions have consequences. So far as J&K is concerned, Article 370 is done. So, the issue is what kind of pic.twitter.com/41ZSq9VQHs

ANI (@ANI) August 30, 2024

Bilateral talks between India and Pakistan have not taken place since the Modi government revoked the special status of Jammu & Kashmir in 2019.

India has repeatedly told Pakistan that the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh "was, is and shall forever" remain an integral part of the country.

India has been maintaining that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan while insisting that the onus is on Islamabad to create an environment that is free of terror and hostility for such an engagement

During the event, Jaishankar said that every country in the world faces problems when it comes to handling their neighbours.

"For every country, neighbours are always a conundrum. They can never be solved. They are continuing relationships which will always throw up problems," he said.

Giving an example of India's recent diplomatic wrinkles with countries like Bangladesh and Maldives, where power has changed hands recently, the EAM said: "People sometimes come and say that's happened in Bangladesh and this has happened in Maldives ... they need to look around the world and tell me which country doesn't face challenges with neighbours. It is in the very nature of being a neighbour that this will happen. In fact, the closeness- which is the definition of a neighbour - is actually the complication."

After assuming charge as the foreign minister for a second term, Jaishankar in June spoke about India's relationship with Pakistan and said that New Delhi would like to find a solution to the issue of years-old cross-border terrorism.

The external affairs minister has regularly called out Pakistan for its support to terror groups.

Last month, in a veiled dig at Pakistan, Jaishankar said that the facilitators, financiers and sponsors of terrorism should be identified and punished.

Earlier, in May, Jaishankar said that Pakistan will be treated normally "if they shut down their terror industry."

"The ball is in their court. If they wind down this industry that they have built up in many decades, then people will treat them like a normal neighbour. If they make this their core competence, then obviously that will define their image," Jaishankar said.