No Change In India's J&K Policy, Only Outstanding Matter Is PoK: MEA
The MEA's reiteration on no change in India's J&K policy comes days after US President Donald Trump offered to mediate on Kashmir
There is no change in India's official policy on Jammu & Kashmir, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday, adding that the only outstanding matter is vacation of the J&K territory occupied by Pakistan.
"We have a long-standing national position that any issues pertaining to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally. That stated policy has not changed. The outstanding matter is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also echoed similar sentiments in his speech on Monday, saying, "If talks with Pakistan happen, it will only be about terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir."
He reported that India has paused Operation Sindoor temporarily and will wait and watch Pakistan's conduct in the days to come.
He also said that Pakistan was the first approach India regarding de-escalation after rising military tensions between the two.
PM Modi reaffirmed the abeyance of the Indus Waters Treaty post the Pahalgam attacks, saying that "blood and water cannot flow together."
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The MEA's reiteration on no change in India's J&K policy comes days after US President Donald Trump offered to mediate on Kashmir, saying that he can work with the leaderships of both India and Pakistan to find a "solution" for Kashmir.
Trump, in his statement, also stated that he would substantially "increase trade" with both the countries.
"While not even discussed, I am going to increase trade, substantially, with both of these great Nations. Additionally, I will work with you both to see if, after a “thousand years,” a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir," Trump said in his post on Truth Social.
In his press conference on Monday, he also credited the potential of the US extending trade relations with the two countries as one of the reasons why de-escalation occurred between India and Pakistan and a ceasefire was agreed upon.
On the US president's statement on trade, the MEA spokesperson said, "From the time Operation Sindoor commenced on 7th May till the understanding on cessation of firing and military action on 10th May, there were conversations between Indian and US leaders on the evolving military situation. The issue of trade did not come up in any of these discussions."
