Will Only Talks with Pakistan Focus on Terror?

New Delhi, May 15 (NationPress) Highlighting that India accomplished its “key objectives” by dismantling the terrorist infrastructure during Operation Sindoor, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar affirmed on Thursday that discussions with Pakistan will exclusively focus on terrorism.

"The Prime Minister has made it abundantly clear that our only discussions with Pakistan will revolve around terrorism. Pakistan possesses a list of terrorists that must be surrendered, and they need to dismantle their terrorist infrastructure. They are aware of the necessary actions. We are ready to engage in talks with them regarding terrorism. Those discussions are feasible," EAM Jaishankar stated to reporters following the inauguration of the Embassy of Honduras in New Delhi.

Elaborating on India's stance regarding various matters in the wake of the profoundly successful Operation Sindoor, Jaishankar pointed out that New Delhi received substantial international backing after the appalling Pahalgam terror strike on April 22, which led to the tragic deaths of 26 innocent civilians.

The Resistance Front (TRF), an international terror group linked to the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) based in Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attacks.

"Let me clarify a few points. First, we garnered significant international support. Numerous ministers and leaders reached out to the Prime Minister, and many ministers contacted me as well. We had a Security Council resolution that clearly stated that those responsible for this attack must be held accountable. On the morning of May 7, we held them accountable through the actions taken in Operation Sindoor," the EAM remarked.

He also clarified India's position regarding the cessation of firing and military actions.

"We met the objectives we aimed for by eliminating the terrorist infrastructure. With key goals achieved, we reasonably adopted the stance that, even at the operation's commencement, we had communicated to Pakistan that we were targeting terrorist infrastructure and not military assets; the military had the option to refrain from interfering in this process. They chose not to heed that wise counsel. After suffering significant losses on the morning of May 10, the satellite images compellingly illustrate the extent of damage we inflicted compared to the minimal damage they incurred. It is evident who desired a cessation of hostilities," Jaishankar stated.

Earlier, while addressing an audience in Srinagar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh remarked that India respects the ongoing ceasefire agreement only as long as no terrorist attacks occur within the nation. He further asserted that it is high time for a global watchdog to oversee Pakistan's nuclear facilities.

Speaking to Indian Army personnel at the Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar, the headquarters of the Army’s 15 Corps, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh declared, “Our Operation Sindoor is undoubtedly the most significant anti-terrorism operation ever conducted by India. We struck at their core and inflicted a substantial wound after they attempted to strike our head.”