'Relations built on sensitivities to...': India asks Turkey to urge Pakistan to end terrorism

Randhir Jaiswal

India on Thursday unequivocally stated that it expects Turkey to 'strongly urge' Pakistan to end cross-border terrorism emanating from it and emphasised that relations are built on sensitivities each other's concerns.

In a weekly press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “We expect Turkey to strongly urge Pakistan to end its support to cross-border terrorism and take credible and verifiable actions against the terror ecosystem it has harboured for decades."

“Relations are built on the basis of sensitivities to each other’s concerns,” he added.

Additionally, the Jaiswal reiterated that any talks between India and Pakistan must remain strictly bilateral, in response to a question about US President Donald Trump taking credit for the India-Pakistan ceasefire.

“I would like to let you know, that you are aware of our position that any India-Pakistan engagement has to be bilateral. At the same time, I would like to remind you that talks and terror don't go together,” he said.

“I would also like to underline that any bilateral discussion on Jammu and Kashmir will only be on the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan. And on the question of Indus Waters Treaty, I am again repeating myself, 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. Trade and terror also cannot go together,” he added.

He also said that any related talks with Pakistan will only take place with the return of territory illegally occupied by Pakistan.

Randhir Jaiswal said that India has a "long-standing national position (on J&K) ... that issues pertaining to the Union Territory have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally".

Jaiswal also reiterating what senior officials from the Ministry have said: "Terror and talks can't go together... terror and trade can't happen together... terror and water can't flow together."