Talks with Pakistan will revolve only around Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, says Rajnath Singh

Asserting that dialogue with Pakistan is not possible till it stops aiding and abetting terrorism, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday that if talks are held with Pakistan they will be regarding Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK). Addressing a public rally ahead of flagging off the BJP’s Jan Ashirwad rally for the assembly polls in Haryana’s Kalka, Singh said, “If talks take place (with Pakistan), it will be on PoK (Pakistan occupied Kashmir) and not on any other issue.” [caption id=“attachment_7181911” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Union defence minister Rajnath Singh in Haryana. Twitter/@rajnathsingh[/caption] Rajnath’s comments come a day after the defence minister said that India was “firmly committed” to its ’no first use’ of nuclear weapons policy but future of the security doctrine will depend on the circumstances. These remarks comes amid rising tension between New Delhi and Islamabad over Kashmir. “If at all there have to be any talks with Pakistan they will only happen when it stops aiding and abetting terrorism,” he said while noting that people in Pakistan want a dialogue between India and Pakistan.

धारा 370 और 35A हटने से हमारा एक पड़ोसी बौखला गया है और दुनिया के तमाम देशों का दरवाजा खटखटा रहा है।

कुछ लोग यह मानते और कहते है कि पाकिस्तान से बात होनी चाहिए मगर जब तक पाकिस्तान आतंकवाद को समर्थन देना बंद नहीं करता कोई बात नहीं होगी।अगर पाकिस्तान से बात भी होगी तो POK पर होगी।

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) August 18, 2019

On the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution, he said the step had weakened the neighbouring country and has become a cause of concern for them.

“Now it (Pak) is knocking every door and approaching various countries seeking help for saving them. What crime have we committed. Why are we being threatened. However, the world’s most powerful country America has snubbed Pakistan and asked it to go back and initiate a dialogue with India,” he said.

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He said Pakistan want to destabilise and weaken India through terrorism. “At times Pakistan wants to break our country by using terrorism.But our 56-inch chest PM has shown to the country how to take decisions. After the Pulwama attack our Air Force carried out Balakot strike,” he said. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who remained in denial over Balakot strikes, had recently said that India was planning a bigger strike than Balakot which means he has admitted that the Balakot air strike took place, the defence minister said. With inputs from agencies