India-Parker Relations: “The conversation and horror are not together,” said a MEA spokesman
The central government reiterated its position on Thursday that any talks with Pakistan must be bilateral, and clarified again that the Indian Waters Treaty (IWT) will continue to be suspended until the support of India's neighbors is “reliable, irrevocable”. The development comes amid a fragile ceasefire between India and Pakistan as requested by Pakistan this month. Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said: “I want to remind you that neither the conversation nor the horror will be together.
After India launched Operation Sindor in India in retaliation for Pakistan’s attempt to attack Indian military and civil sites on Indian land, Prime Minister Modi said in his first speech to the country: “If another terrorist attack is carried out on India, there will be a strong response.” PM Modi added: “Water and blood cannot flow together.” This refers to the suspension of a vital water treaty between India and Pakistan.
“India is still willing to discuss the terrorists who handed over the terrorists to India, which had been submitted to Pak a few years ago,” a MEA spokesman said.
“In terms of terrorism itself, as I have said before, we are willing to discuss the terrorists who awarded the famous terrorists to Pakistan a few years ago.”
A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry also reiterated India's firm position that any negotiation between the two countries would involve when Pakistan would evacuate its illegally occupied Jamu and Kashmir (POJK). “I also want to emphasize that any bilateral discussions about Jamu and Kashmir will only be on vacation on Indian territory illegally occupied by Pakistan,” he said.
The spokesman also said that the Indian delegation would visit 33 countries in which India has enthusiastic relations with its members, or temporary members of the UN Security Council. It is important for these countries to understand the truth about Pakistan and its position on cross-border terrorism.
The spokesman said the National Security Advisor spoke with the Chinese Foreign Minister on May 10.
On Thursday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif proposed to use Saudi Arabia as a neutral position for talks with India, noting that the United States can become a mediator between the two sides.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi reiterated India's strong position on terrorism and pointed out that India will not negotiate or trade with Islamabad unless India abandons its illegal occupation of Kashmir. PM Modi said at a rally held in Bikaner in Rajasthan: “If any talk is to be done, it will be in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK). If Pakistan continues to export terrorists, it will beg for every penny. It will not get a drop of Indian water.”
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