NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said Wednesday that war with Pakistan was not an option and talks with the neighbour were initiated since it was the only way to remove the shadow of terrorism.
India and Pakistan decided to hold talks on terror when Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif met in Ufa (Russia) in July and then, in Paris recently, Sushma said.
“We said we can talk so that terrorism comes to an end. So talks (between NSAs) took place in Bangkok where we discussed terrorism. But one meeting will not bring a solution to all the problems. So, we will continue the dialogue,” she said and explained that India was talking to Pakistan on the terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as “war is not an option”.
“We have decided that through talks we will resolve the issue of terrorism as talks is the way forward so that the shadow of terror is removed. But we want to make it clear, our Prime Minister Modi has made it clear that talks and terror can’t go together. Dialogue is drowned by the sound of explosions,” she added.
She was replying to a question posed by BJP member Ganesh Singh. The government has recently decided to restart the ‘comprehensive’ dialogue with Pakistan under which various subjects, including terrorism and Kashmir, will be discussed.
“The Prime Minister said let’s talk on terror. There is no third party. Through talks, both the countries are trying to resolve the issue of terrorism,” said Sushma. She recalled that following the Prime Minister’s conversation with Sharif in Paris on November 30 on the sidelines of the climate change summit and in line with the Ufa understanding between the two leaders, the National Security Advisors of the two countries met in Bangkok on December 6.
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