New Delhi: India on Tuesday reiterated that its stance on Jammu and Kashmir remains unchanged, emphasising that the issue is strictly a bilateral matter to be resolved exclusively between India and Pakistan.
“We have a long-standing national position that any issues pertaining to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally. That stated policy has not changed. The outstanding matter is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a presser.
He pointed out that the military action was entirely in the conventional domain. “There were some reports that Pakistan’s National Command Authority will meet on 10 May. But this was later denied by them. Pakistan FM has himself denied the nuclear angle on record. As you know, India has a firm stance that it will not give in to nuclear blackmail or allow cross-border terrorism to be conducted invoking it. In conversations with various countries, we also cautioned that their subscribing to such scenarios could hurt them in their own region.”
He also mentioned that India plans to get the The Resistance Front (TRF) listed as a terror entity at the UN.
The TRF had initially claimed responsibility for Pahalgam terror attack, but later blamed cyber intrusion by Indian intelligence for the social media post, amid global condemnation.
Dismissing US President Donal Trump’s mediation claims, Jaiswal asserted that it was of force of Indian arms that compelled Pakistan to stop its firing.
“The specific date, time and wording of the understanding was worked out between the DGMOs of the two countries at their phone call on 10 May 2025 commencing 1535 hrs. The request for this call was received by the MEA from the Pakistani High Commission at 1237 hrs. The Pakistani side had initial difficulties connecting the hotline to the Indian side for technical reasons. The timing was then decided based on the availability of the Indian DGMO at 1535 hrs. You will of course appreciate that early on 10th morning, we had mounted an extremely effective attack on key Pakistani Air Force bases. That was the reason they were now willing to stop firing and military action. Let me be clear. It was of force of Indian arms that compelled Pakistan to stop its firing.
He further stated that the message from India to other nations was clear and consistent. “And exactly the same message that we were conveying from public platforms was the one conveyed in private conversations. It was that India was responding to the 22 April terrorist attack by targeting the terrorist infrastructure. However, if the Pakistani armed forces fire, Indian armed forces will fire back; if Pakistan stops, India will also stop. This was also the message that was conveyed to the Pakistani side at the time of the commencement of Op Sindoor, which was not heeded to by the Pakistani side at that time. It is natural that many foreign leaders who heard this from us would have shared it with their Pakistani interlocutors.”
The MEA spokesperson said that India has taken note of Turkish drones and Chinese missiles used by Pakistan. “You must have seen the effectiveness,” he added.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s interview to foreign media
“In the last week, as a result of Operation Sindoor, Pakistan has seen its terrorism centres in Bahawalpur, Muridke, Muzaffarabad and other places destroyed. Thereafter, its military capabilities were significantly degraded by us and key airbases effectively put out of action. If the Pakistani FM wishes to project these as achievements, he is welcome to do so. Where India is concerned, our stand was clear and consistent from the start. We would target terrorist infrastructure operating out of Pakistan. If the Pakistani military stayed out, there would be no problem. If they fired on us, we would respond suitably. Till the night of 9th May, Pakistan was threatening India with a massive assault. Once their attempt failed on 10th May morning and they received a devastating Indian counter-response, their tune changed and their DGMO eventually reached out to us…”
Donal Trump’s ‘If you stop it, we’re doing trade’ claim
“From the time Operation Sindoor commenced on 7th May till the understanding on cessation of firing and military action on 10th May, there were conversations between Indian and US leaders on the evolving military situation. The issue of trade did not come up in any of these discussions.”
Pakistan Foreign Office criticising PM Modi’s Speech
“We have seen the statement made by the Pakistani side. That a nation which has nurtured terrorism on an industrial scale should think that it can escape the consequences is fooling itself. The terrorist infrastructure sites that India destroyed were responsible not only for the deaths of Indians but of many other innocents around the world. There is now a new normal. The sooner Pakistan gets it, the better it is.”
“Parasth ho jao, per Dhol Bajo’
“…Claiming victory is an old habit. They did the same in 1971, 1975 and 1999 Kargil War. Dhol bajane ka Paksitan ka purana ravaiyya hai. Parast ho jaye lekin dhol bajao….”
Indus Water Treaty to remain in abeyance
“The IWT was concluded in the spirit of goodwill and friendship as specified in the preamble of the treaty. However, Pakistan has held these principles in abeyance by its promotion of cross-border terrorism for decades. Now as per CCS decision of 23 April, India will keep the Treaty in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism. Please also note that climate change, demographic shifts and technological changes have created new realities on the ground.”
No Hyphenation Between India, Pakistan
“On the contrary, there is widespread understanding in the world that Indian tourists were the victims of terrorism at Pahalgam and that the epicentre of terrorism is across the border in Pakistan. A number of foreign leaders in their conversations with Indian counterparts recognized India’s right to defend itself and protect its people. I also draw your attention to the UN Security Council press statement of 25 April which states that “the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of this reprehensible act of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice. They stressed that those responsible for these killings should be held accountable”.
