India-Pakistan Talks Will Be 'Strictly Bilateral', Only Issue Left To Discuss Is Our Illegally Occupied Territory: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has reaffirmed that India’s approach to Pakistan will remain “strictly bilateral,” the Indian Express reported. He dismissed any possibility of third-party intervention, including recent offers from US President Donald Trump to mediate on the Kashmir issue.

Speaking in New Delhi on Thursday (15 May), Jaishankar emphasised, “To me, things are fairly clear. So, let me take this opportunity to spell out our position. One, where Pakistan is concerned, our relations, our dealings with them will be bilateral, and strictly bilateral. That has been a national consensus for many years, and there is absolutely no change in that consensus that dealings with Pakistan will be bilateral.”

He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it “very clear” that any talks with Pakistan will focus solely on terrorism.

Jaishankar said the UN Security Council had stressed the importance of bringing those behind the Pahalgam terror attack to justice, and on the morning of 7 May, “we held them accountable through Operation Sindoor.”

The operation, a military response to the Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 lives, targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan. It resulted in the elimination of over 100 terrorists and caused significant damage to Pakistani military assets after Pakistan retaliated.

Jaishankar also underscored that the only issue left to discuss with Pakistan regarding Kashmir is the “vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.” He added, “We are open to discussing it with Pakistan… The government position is very, very clear”