New Delhi, May 15 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday said India held Pakistan accountable on May 7 through Operation Sindoor, targeting those responsible for cross-border terrorism.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00And on May 7th morning, we held them accountable through the action which was taken through Operation Sindhur.
00:07The Prime Minister made it very clear that the only talks with Pakistan will be on terror.
00:13Pakistan has a list of terrorists who need to be handed over.
00:18They have to shut down the terrorist infrastructure.
00:21They know what to do.
00:21The Indus-Waters Treaty is held in abeyance and will continue to be held in abeyance until cross-border terrorism by Pakistan is credibly and irrevocably stopped.
00:35The only thing which remains to be discussed on Kashmir is the vocation of illegally occupied Indian territory in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
00:47We are open to discussing that with Pakistan.
00:50Satellite pictures which actually bring out very graphically how much damage we did.
00:57By the way, the satellite pictures also bring out how little damage they did.
01:00Let me say a few things here.
01:02One, we actually got a lot of international support.
01:08Many ministers, many leaders called up PM.
01:11Many ministers called me up.
01:13We had a security council resolution which very clearly said that the perpetrators of the attack should be held accountable.
01:22And on May 7th morning, we held them accountable through the action which was taken through Operation Sindhur.
01:29Now, having said that, I know, you know, what you have spoken to me earlier, that many issues have been raised.
01:42I honestly don't see the, you know, to me things are fairly clear.
01:47So, let me take this opportunity to spell out our position.
01:52One, where Pakistan is concerned.
01:56Our relations, our dealings with them will be bilateral and strictly bilateral.
02:02That is a national consensus for many years.
02:05And there is absolutely no change in that consensus that dealings with Pakistan will be bilateral.
02:14Talks with Pakistan.
02:15I think the Prime Minister made it very clear that the only talks with Pakistan will be on terror.
02:22That Pakistan has a list of terrorists who need to be handed over.
02:27They have to shut down the terrorist infrastructure.
02:30They know what to do.
02:31We are prepared to discuss with them what is to be done on terrorism.
02:36Those are the talks which are feasible.
02:39Water issues have been raised.
02:42Again, you all know, and I re-emphasize, the Cabinet Committee on Security and the Government, obviously,
02:52was very clear that the Indus Waters Treaty is held in abeyance
03:00and will continue to be held in abeyance
03:03until cross-border terrorism by Pakistan is credibly and irrevocably stopped.
03:11So, sometimes the Kashmir issue has been brought up.
03:17Again, the only thing which remains to be discussed on Kashmir
03:23is the vocation of illegally occupied Indian territory in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
03:30We are open to discussing that with Pakistan.
03:33So, I want, you know, to spell out our positions very clearly so that, you know, what is in your minds
03:43and what many of you have raised with me on various occasions, the government's position is very, very clear.
03:49Ceasefire, I think one of you asked me inside about trade as well.
03:53So, on the ceasefire, I mean, what you call ceasefire, we call cessation of firing and military action.
04:02We achieved, you know, the goals which we set out to do by destroying the terrorist infrastructure
04:12in Bhopalpur, Muridke, Muzaffarabad and other places.
04:15So, after that, I think since the key goals were achieved, I think we reasonably took the position
04:26because even at that start, at the start of the operation, we had sent a message to Pakistan saying
04:33we are striking at terrorist infrastructure, we are not striking at the military.
04:38So, the military has an option of standing out and not interfering in this process.
04:43They chose not to take that good advice.
04:45Now, once they got hit as badly as they did on the morning of May 10th
04:55and all of you have seen the, you know, today the satellite pictures
05:01which actually bring out very graphically how much damage we did.
05:06By the way, the satellite pictures also bring out how little damage they did.
05:10So, these pictures, I think, will tell you what a hit they took
05:14and the same people who are not willing to stand down on 7th May were willing to talk and stand down on the 10th of May.
05:23It is very clear who wanted the cessation of firing.
05:26On the trade remarks, let me say this, that look, between India and U.S., trade talks have been going on, negotiations have been going on.
05:40In fact, we have, I think, a team is just going at this point.
05:46These are very complicated negotiations.
05:48They are very intricate.
05:49Nothing is decided until, you know, everything is.
05:54But any trade deal, any trade deal has to be mutually beneficial.
06:01Any trade deal has to work for both the countries.
06:05And I think that would be our expectation from the trade deal.
06:10And until that is done, I think any judgment on it would be premature.