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Informist, Thursday, May 15, 2025

NEW DELHI – India's relationship and dealings with Pakistan will remain bilateral and the policy has not changed even after the pause on Operation Sindoor, External Affair Minister S. Jaishankar said Thursday. The minister's remarks came after US President Donald Trump repeatedly claimed negotiating a ceasefire between both the countries.

"...there is absolutely no change in that (India's policy of dealing bilaterally with Pakistan)," Jaishankar said. "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". On Kashmir issue, Jaishankar said that the only thing which remains to be discussed is the vacating of illegally occupied Indian territory in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. "We are open to that discussion," he said.

Trump has repeatedly claimed that he used trade as a tool to negotiate a ceasefire between the two countries. Trump also offered to help in settling the Kashmir dispute. Trump's remarks created an issue in the country with the main opposition party Congress questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on Trump's claims.

After nearly four days of hostilities, India and Pakistan on Saturday reached an understanding to stop firing on land, sea, and air. The decision was taken following the talks between director generals of military operations from both the countries. Interestingly, the US president announced cessation of firing before the Indian government's announcement and took the claim for it.

On May 7, India had launched the Operation Sindoor to strike at terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir in retaliation for Pahalgam terrorist attacks in which 26 people, mainly tourists, were killed. Indian armed forces targeted nine camps killing over 100 terrorists, the government said.

Jaishankar said since the key goals were achieved, the government "reasonably took the position (cessation of firing)". "The satellite pictures bring out graphically how badly they (were) hit and how little we (were) hit. The same people who did not want to stand down on May 7 were ready for that on May 10. It is very clear who wanted the cessation of firing."

He also said that the Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan will continue to be held in abeyance until the cross-border terrorism by Pakistan is credibly and irrevocably stopped. The Indian government suspended the Indus Waters Treaty on Apr. 23 in response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack.  End

Reported by Kuldeep Singh

Edited by Akul Nishant Akhoury

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