India-Pak ties can move ahead only in terror-free environment: EAM

External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar has said that India’s relations with Pakistan can only move ahead in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence. In a written reply in Lok Sabha on Friday, Dr Jaishankar said that Pakistan continues to follow the policy of cross-border terrorism and using terrorism as an instrument of state policy against India. “Military action targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir was also undertaken,” he added.
The Minister said that India withdrew Most Favoured Nation (MFN) Status to Pakistan, and hiked customs duty on all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan to 200 percent after the Pulwama terror attack. India took a number of diplomatic steps, including holding Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, closing Attari check-post, restricting visas, and downsizing diplomatic and official presence at the respective Missions following Pulwama terror attack. Dr Jaishankar stated that military action targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir was also undertaken.  
The External Affairs Minister informed that at present, India and Pakistan maintain their respective diplomatic Missions in each other’s capital. Both sides continue to have functional engagements, including DGMO-level talks, exchange of pre-notification of flight testing of ballistic missiles, exchange of list of nuclear installations, and exchange of list of prisoners in each other’s custody.
The minister was also asked the number of bilateral talks held between India and Pakistan at various levels during the last five years along with the issues discussed therein and whether the government “still maintains that normal bilateral relations” with Pakistan are not possible until cross-border terrorism ends. “India has made clear its approach of responding appropriately against cross-border terrorism and its infrastructure, not tolerating any form of blackmail and taking comprehensive steps to protect its citizens. These considerations shape India’s conviction that normal bilateral relations require an end to cross-border terrorism,” he said.