Kalka (Haryana): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said here Sunday there would be no talks with Pakistan unless it acts against terrorists and stops supporting terror activities. He further said if talks were held with Pakistan in future, they would be only on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Singh said this while addressing a public rally ahead of the flagging off the BJP’s Jan Ashirwad Yatra for the October assembly polls in Haryana. On the scrapping of the provision granting a special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, Singh said the decisions had sent jitters to Pakistan and it became a cause of concern for them.
“Now it (Pakistan) is knocking every door and approaching various countries for help. Have we committed any crime? And they are trying to threaten us. However, America, perceived to be the most powerful country in the world by people, has snubbed Pakistan, telling them to initiate a dialogue with India,” he said.
On what issue should we have talks and why, the defence minister asked in the presence of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar, Krishan Pal Gurjar and Rattan Lal Kataria besides a number of cabinet ministers and BJP MLAs from the state.
Rajnath Singh said people in Pakistan say there should be talks between India and Pakistan.
“About what should we talk? What’s the issue on which there should be talks? Why there should be a talk? If there would be any talk with Pakistan, it would happen only when Pakistan stops supporting terror from its soil,” he asserted.
Singh said India’s respect, pride and prestige was above all and they were committed to this and it was not any election stunt. He also accused Pakistan of wanting to destabilise and weaken India through terrorism.