(Image source from: x.com/BJP4India)
India's stance regarding Jammu and Kashmir, specifically concerning the territory unlawfully occupied by Pakistan, remains unchanged, as stated by the External Affairs Ministry on Tuesday. This statement reaffirms what Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed a day earlier and aligns with comments from government officials shared with NDTV the previous day. The ministry emphasized India's commitment to resolving this matter through direct discussions with Pakistan, notwithstanding Pakistan’s past requests for mediation and the two offers made by US President Donald Trump. During a routine press briefing, ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told journalists that India has a "long-standing national position regarding J&K," insisting that issues related to the Union Territory should be dealt with solely between India and Pakistan. Jaiswal stated, "This position has not changed," and he reiterated the pressing issue of reclaiming the territory illegally occupied by Pakistan in response to a question regarding Trump’s mediation proposal.
#WATCH | Delhi: MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "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… pic.twitter.com/gsbwsFF36l
— ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2025
In his first national speech since Operation Sindoor, which was India’s military operation in response to the Pahalgam attack, the Prime Minister emphasized that discussions about Kashmir would only occur in the context of dismantling Pakistan’s terrorism apparatus and recovering the territories it occupies. Echoing previous leaders, he proclaimed, "Terror and talks cannot coexist... terror and commerce cannot coexist... terror and water cannot coexist." This remark also touched upon the stalled Indus Waters Treaty amidst reports that Pakistan sought to revive it in exchange for a ceasefire agreement. "If we ever engage Pakistan in conversation, it will only be regarding terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir," Modi affirmed. He has issued a warning to both Pakistan and the terrorists it supports, indicating a significant shift in India’s approach to terrorism, which he outlined recently. He cautioned that India would execute powerful counterstrikes if another incident like the one in Pahalgam occurred, where 26 individuals, primarily civilians, fell victim to attacks linked to the Pakistan-based Lashkar group.
India has consistently articulated its position on Kashmir over the years, asserting that there should only be bilateral discussions with Pakistan focused on returning the occupied territory. However, there have been numerous offers for mediation, with discussions regarding a third party to assist in resolving a longstanding conflict that keeps both nuclear states on the edge of conflict. Trump made such a suggestion during his first term and reiterated it just two days ago. The US President, who claimed credit for facilitating the ceasefire in a brief social media post, expressed his willingness to "collaborate with both sides to see if, after a millennium, a resolution can be achieved concerning Kashmir." Pakistan welcomed this proposal, but India predictably dismissed it. A similar rejection occurred in 2019 when Trump controversially asserted that Prime Minister Modi had asked him to mediate the Kashmir dispute. Jaiswal then clarified that no such request had occurred and emphasized that all discussions with Pakistan should remain bilateral.
The firm response led the US government to reconsider its stance; the State Department stated that Kashmir is a matter to be resolved between Islamabad and New Delhi, emphasizing that Washington is merely "prepared to help."
