External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar says 'era of uninterrupted dialogue with Pakistan is over'

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Friday said that the 'era of uninterrupted dialogue with Pakistan is over'. The EAM was speaking at a book launch event in Delhi where he made some crucial comments on India's relationship with Pakistan.

"The era of uninterrupted dialogue with Pakistan is over. Actions have consequences. So far as J&K is concerned, Article 370 is done. So, the issue is what kind of relationship we can contemplate with Pakistan," Jaishankar said.



Furthermore, Jaishankar expressed his contemplation over the kind of ties India can have with Pakistan. However, he took the moment to assert that India would react to any sort of event initiated by Pakistan, be it negative or positive.

"What I do want to say is that we are not passive, and whether events take a positive or a negative direction, either way, we will react," Jaishankar said.

Jaishankar also addressed conundrums between neighbouring nations. He explained that diplomatic relationship between two countries, especially when geopolitically connected, can be challenging.

"Neighbours are always a conundrum...Tell me which country is there that doesn't have challenges with neighbours," Jaishankar asked.

'Strong ties with Afghanistan'

On the other hand, Jaishankar said that there are strong people-to-people ties with Afghanistan.

"Where Afghanistan is concerned, there are... strong people to people relations. There is actually, at a societal level, there is a certain goodwill for India. But as we look at Afghanistan, I think the basics of statecraft should not be forgotten. There are international relations at work here. So when we today review our afghan policy, I think we are very clear eyed about our interests. We are not confused by 'inherited wisdom' that is before us," he said.

The External Affairs Minister said that Afghanistan with the presence of American forces is very different from Afghanistan without the presence of America.

"We must appreciate that the Afghanistan with the presence of America for us is very different from the Afghanistan without the presence of America," Jaishankar said.

'Ground of mutual interest with Bangladesh'

Jaishankar said that India has to find a ground of mutual interest with Bangladesh and India would deal with 'the government of the day'.

"Since Bangladesh's independence, our relationship has gone up and down, and it is natural that we will deal with the government of the day. But we also have to recognise that there are political changes, and they can be disruptive. And clearly here we have to look for mutuality of interest," Jaishankar said.

Talking about Myanmar, Jaishankar said that the context of Northeast is an overriding one.

"Going further east, there is Myanmar, which is both- relevant and remote at the same time. And here again, I think the northeast, the context of the Northeast or Northeast is the overriding one. And we... have to find a balance between the government and other stakeholders, because that is the reality," he said.