India will not hold talks with Pakistan until it gives upits state policy of supporting terrorism, the country’s Ambassador to the USHarsh Vardhan Shringla said, hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi wasreelected in a general election fought on strong nationalistic sentiments.
Ties between India and Pakistan hit a new low after thePulwama terror attack. Tensions flared up after a suicide bomber ofPakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM) killed 40 CRPF personnel in Kashmir’sPulwama district on February 14.
Amid mounting outrage, the Indian Air Force (IAF) carriedout a counter-terror operation, hitting the biggest JeM training camp inBalakot, deep inside Pakistan on February 26. The next day, Pakistan Air Forceretaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured an IAF pilot,who was handed over to India.
Shringla said the onus of the peace talks to improve therelationship between the two south Asian neighbours lies on Pakistan.
As long as a particular country uses terrorism as aninstrument of state policy and India continues to be at the receiving end ofthat policy, no Indian government will get a mandate from the people to reachout to that country, he told a group of American reporters as results of thegeneral elections were declared in New Delhi in which Modi was voted back topower with a strong mandate.
Responding to a question on the future of the India-Pakrelationship, Shringla said the day Pakistan adjourns terrorism as a means ofachieving its end, “I think the government will be within itsmandate” to start a better relationship with its western neighbour.
“I think it is the desire of every Indian to have goodrelations with Pakistan. You see our relations with Bangladesh, you see our relationswith Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan. We have excellentrelationships,” he said.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday congratulatedModi on his electoral triumph and expressed desire to work with him for peaceand prosperity in the region.
Shringla said it is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’sinclusive effort – Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas – to be part of their development.His policy is development for all, including India’s neighbours, the topdiplomat said.
“We have committed USD 27 billion to the development ofour neighbourhood and Pakistan is welcome to join. But it cannot be pursuing apolicy of supporting terrorism on the one hand and then trying to talk of peaceon the other. That double handed policy is not something that we can deal withanymore,” Shringla said.
Referring to the national sentiment in the aftermath of thePulwama terrorist attack, Shringla said there is strong bipartisan support inIndia when it comes to dealing with terrorism.
“So what happens will depend largely on Pakistan, but Ithink we will have to wait and watch that space,” he added.