'PM Modi made it very clear': Jaishankar says talks with Pakistan only on PoK, terrorism

Jaishankar said that on May 7th terrorists were "held accountable through Operation Sindoor."

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Thursday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made India's position very clear that any talks with Pakistan will be strictly bilateral and only focus on terrorism and on Pakistan vacating illegally occupied Indian territory in Pak-occupied Kashmir. The foreign minister stated that Pakistan has a list of terrorists who need to be handed over to India, and they have to shut down the terrorists' infrastructure.

Stating that "the only thing which remains to be discussed on Kashmir is the vacating of illegally occupied Indian territory in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir", Jaishankar said that India is open to that discussion with Islamabad.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Honduras embassy, Jaishankar said, "Our relations and dealings with Pakistan will be strictly bilateral. That is a national consensus for years, and there is absolutely no change in that. The prime minister made it very clear that talks with Pakistan will be only on terror."

"Pakistan has a list of terrorists that needs to be handed over, and they have to shut down the terrorists' infrastructure. They know what to do. We are prepared to discuss with them what is to be done about terrorism. Those are the talks which are feasible," he added.

Talking about the support that India received from different countries after Pahalgam terror attacks, Jaishankar said, "We actually got a lot of international support. We had a UNSC resolution that perpetrators must be held accountable, and on May 7th, they were held accountable through Operation Sindoor."

Terrorists of Pakistani terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba's offshoot The Resistance Front (TRF) claimed responsibility for Pahalgam attack where 26 people were killed on 22 April.

India launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7 to destroy nine terror hubs in Pakistan and Pak-Occupied-Kashmir in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack.

India and Pakistan announced reaching an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea, with effect from 5 pm on Saturday.

On Monday, in his first address to the nation after Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Operation Sindoor has carved out a new benchmark in India's fight against terrorism, and set up a new parameter and a new normal. "Indian armed forces executed precise strikes on terrorist hideouts and training centres in Pakistan, delivering a decisive blow," PM said.