No change on stand with Pakistan, terrorism and talks cannot go together: MEA

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. (File photo)

Amid simmering tensions between India and Pakistan over Pahalgam terror attack, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said that there have been "no change on stand with Pakistan".

While briefing the media, 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.

Talking about the Indus Water Treaty, he said, "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."

Tensions escalated between India and Pakistan after 26 civilians, mostly tourists, were gunned down in a ghastly terror attack in the Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22. This led the Indian armed forces to launch strikes on nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under Operation Sindoor on May 7.

Following this, Pakistan launched drones and missile strikes on several bordering areas in India, including in J&K, Punjab and Rajasthan. This led India to retaliate and target Pak's airbases and other regions.