“If there are talks with Pakistan, it will be only on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir,” Modi said, rejecting broader bilateral dialogue until Islamabad dismantles its terror infrastructure.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared on Monday that any future dialogue with Pakistan would focus solely on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), as he addressed the nation following India’s cross-border Operation Sindoor. The televised speech, coming days after precision strikes on terror launchpads in PoK and Pakistan, marked a significant hardening of India’s diplomatic and military stance.
“If there are talks with Pakistan, it will be only on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir,” Modi said, rejecting broader bilateral dialogue until Islamabad dismantles its terror infrastructure.
Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack which killed 26 civilians, saw Indian forces strike at Bahawalpur, Muridke, and other known terror hubs with drones and missiles. Over 100 terrorists were reported killed, including long-protected leaders. Modi underscored that these targets were not limited to PoK but extended deep into Pakistani territory—signalling that India would no longer be restrained by conventional boundaries in its anti-terror operations.
“India gave its forces full freedom to act. Every terrorist, every terror organisation now knows the consequences of wiping out the sindoor of our sisters and daughters,” the Prime Minister said, referencing the symbolism behind the operation’s name.
As Pakistan retaliated by targeting civilian areas and military installations, India’s air defences intercepted missiles mid-air and struck back, inflicting severe damage on Pakistani air bases. Modi said this response forced Pakistan’s military to request a de-escalation through official channels on May 10.
Although retaliatory strikes were suspended thereafter, Modi emphasised that India remains vigilant. “We will measure every step of Pakistan in the coming days,” he said.
He reiterated that India’s new policy is built on three principles: firm retaliation to terror, no tolerance for nuclear blackmail, and no distinction between the sponsors and perpetrators of terror.
Positioning the Kashmir issue at the heart of India’s Pakistan policy, Modi’s statement on PoK marks a definitive shift. “Our stated policy has been: if there are talks with Pakistan, it will be only on terrorism; and if there are talks with Pakistan, it will be only on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.”
He ended his address by linking India’s actions to global peace, invoking Buddha Purnima: “The path to peace also goes through power.”
