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Rajnath Singh refuses dialogue with Pakistan due to its support for terrorism, stating India will only engage with civilised nations. Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar awaits India’s response.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Lok Sabha on July 28
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday slammed Pakistan, asserting that India will not engage in dialogue with nations that foster terrorism. Speaking in Lok Sabha, Singh criticised Pakistan’s support for terrorism, highlighting the country’s practice of giving state funerals to terrorists with military honours.
The Defence Minister emphasised that dialogue is only possible with civilised and democratic nations, not those driven by religious fanaticism and hatred towards India. “The language of terrorism is fear, blood, and hate, not dialogue,” he said, adding that “the voice of dialogue is suppressed under the firing of bullets.”
“There cannot be talks where there is blood. Pakistan is caught in its trap. There should be no doubt about Pakistan’s intentions and policy,” he added.
The Defence Minister warned Pakistan, saying, “Those who dream of giving India a thousand cuts should now wake up,” and asserted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India is prepared to take any measures against terrorism.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, reiterated Islamabad’s willingness to engage in dialogue on a range of issues, including trade and economic cooperation, as well as counter-terrorism.
However, Dar noted that the ball is now in India’s court, stating that Pakistan is still awaiting a formal response from New Delhi.
Speaking during an interaction with the Atlantic Council think tank, Dar said, “Pakistan is ready to work and cooperate with India on all fronts—from trade to counter-terrorism.” He emphasised the need for “meaningful negotiations”, calling for the resumption of composite dialogue, a framework once used by both nations to address bilateral concerns including Kashmir, security, people-to-people exchanges, and economic ties.
Dar’s overture comes close on the heels of Operation Sindoor, where India pounded nine terrorist hubs in Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack in which 26 innocent tourists were mercilessly killed in Baisaran Valley.
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