India-Pakistan talks frozen: Jaishankar rules out dialogue beyond terror, Rajnath slams Pakistan’s nuclear posture

New Delhi/Srinagar: India on Thursday reiterated its hardened stance on Pakistan, declaring that all bilateral dialogue will remain suspended except on the issue of terrorism, and confirming that the Indus Water Treaty would stay in abeyance until Islamabad dismantles its cross-border terror infrastructure.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made the announcement during a media briefing, underscoring India’s unwavering red lines. “Our position is clear — we will only talk about terrorism, nothing else,” he stated, ruling out comprehensive dialogue. “Pakistan knows what it has to do. The world is also aware of who wants cessation of firing, and who still sponsors violence.”

Jaishankar’s statement came as tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours simmered following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack and India’s strong military response through Operation Sindoor. The operation, which inflicted heavy losses on Pakistan-based terror networks, remains officially paused, not concluded, keeping Indian armed forces on full operational alert.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, currently visiting Jammu and Kashmir for the first time after the attack, echoed similar sentiments. Addressing troops at Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar, Singh said, “I am here not just as your Defence Minister, but as a messenger carrying the gratitude of the entire nation.”

Calling Pakistan an “irresponsible and rogue nation,” Singh raised a global red flag over its nuclear arsenal. “The world must ask: Are nuclear weapons safe in the hands of such a nation? I believe Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities must be placed under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) supervision,” he said.

Singh also credited the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the success of Operation Sindoor and praised the unity and resolve shown by the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “The anger and courage displayed by the people here sends a strong message to our enemies,” he said.

Meanwhile, a ceasefire agreement, reportedly extended until Sunday, has been acknowledged by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, though India has yet to officially confirm the same. The ceasefire is a result of talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries.

In another key development, Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu visited the reopened Srinagar and Jammu airports to review enhanced security protocols following the hostilities.

While the US administration labelled former President Donald Trump a “peacemaker” for his past mediation efforts, analysts and strategic voices in Washington, like Michael Rubin, criticised any further support to Pakistan, especially financial aid via the IMF, citing its continued sponsorship of terrorism.

India’s clear diplomatic and military messaging indicates no tolerance for cross-border terrorism, while reasserting that any normalisation of ties with Pakistan hinges solely on verifiable action against terror groups operating from its soil.