NEW DELHI, May 29: India on Thursday once again made it clear that talks with Pakistan can only happen if it stops cross-border terrorism.
New Delhi’s comments came in response to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressing willingness to hold peace talks with India to resolve all outstanding issues, including Kashmir, terrorism, water and trade.“We would like to reiterate that terrorism and talks cannot go together,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at his weekly media briefing.His assertion came when asked about Sharif’s comments in Tehran this week that Pakistan wants to hold peace talks with India.Jaiswal also emphasised that India will only hold talks with Pakistan on the issues of handing over of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) and on terrorism.
Pakistan needs to hand over to India the terrorists, whose list we submitted to them some years ago, 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 Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: ‘terror and talks cannot go together, terror and trade cannot go together, and water and blood cannot flow together.”
India on April 23 announced a raft of punitive measures against Pakistan including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.The measures were announced a day after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.
India carried out precision strikes on nine terror infrastructures early on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.Following the Indian action, Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9 and 10.The Pakistani attempts were strongly responded to by the Indian side by inflicting heavy damages to a number of key Pakistani military installations including air bases, air defence systems, command and control centres and radar sites.Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on May 10 announced that India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea, with immediate effect.
China declines to comment on performance of China-made weapons used by Pakistan
The Chinese military Thursday declined to comment on the performance of China-made weapons used by Pakistan in the recent conflict with India.Chinese Defence Ministry Spokesperson Sr. Col. Zhang Xiaogang also played down the reports of India recovering an unexploded PL-15E, a radar-guided beyond visual range missile, stated to be the most advanced rocket of its kind produced by China.
The missile you mentioned is an export equipment and has been shown at defence exhibitions at home and abroad many times, Zhang said in his media briefing here.
India and Pakistan are neighbours that cannot be moved away, Zhang said, parrying questions about Indian official’s assertions that China provided air defence and satellite support to Pakistan in the military conflict and Chinese weapons systems performed below average.We hope that both sides can remain calm and restrained and avoid action further complicating the situation, Zhang said, reiterating earlier assertions by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
The Chinese side is willing to continue the constructive role in achieving a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire and preserve regional peace and stability, Zhang said in the first media briefing of the Chinese defence ministry after the May 7-10 military conflict between India and Pakistan.
The Chinese Defence Ministry holds media briefings once a month. (PTI)
