Indo-Pak relations can't be built under duress: Kiren Rijiju

NEW DELHI: In the wake of subsequent provocative statements by Pakistan's Army chief and NSA, Union minister Kiren Rijiju today said relations cannot be built under duress but only through love and goodwill.

"Relations can't be built by threats. Relations can't be improved through threats. Relations can be built only through love and goodwill," he told reporters here when asked to comment on statements made by Pakistan's General Raheel Sharif and National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz.

The Union Minister of State for Home said India always wants to improve its relations with its neighbouring countries, including Pakistan.

Pakistan's army chief General Raheel Sharif has warned India of "unbearable damage" if it tried to impose a short or long war on his country.

"Armed forces of Pakistan are fully capable of dealing with all types of internal and external threats, may it be conventional or sub-conventional; whether it is cold start or hot start. We are ready," General Raheel said.

Pakistan's NSA Sartaj Aziz today said Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to dictate terms for dialogue with Islamabad which will never accept any parleys without Kashmir being on the agenda.

"Narendra Modi contested elections on an anti-Pakistan platform and now wants to dictate terms for the dialogue with Pakistan but we will never accept this and we have already conveyed it to New Delhi," Aziz was quoted as saying by Dawn News.