India has firmly responded to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent appeal for bilateral talks on trade, water disputes, and counter-terrorism cooperation. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India issued a strong statement, reiterating its consistent position that “terrorism and talks cannot go hand in hand.”
The Indian government emphasized that any engagement with Pakistan will be conditional upon Islamabad’s concrete action against terrorism. The MEA made it clear that the only dialogue India is willing to entertain at this stage is about Pakistan handing over wanted terrorists from the list already provided, and discussions related to Pakistan vacating Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
> “The discussion will be solely about Pakistan handing over terrorists and the process for Pakistan to vacate PoK,” the MEA stated.
The Indian government’s response aligns with its policy of zero tolerance towards cross-border terrorism, and reflects its firm stand on issues of sovereignty and national security.
This development comes amid renewed international interest in South Asian stability and India-Pakistan relations, especially concerning cross-border terrorism, Indus water sharing, and trade normalization. However, India continues to maintain that peaceful relations cannot be restored unless Pakistan dismantles its terror infrastructure and ceases support to anti-India elements.
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