Jaishankar Declares End of 'Uninterrupted Dialogue' Era with Pakistan

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced that India's era of 'uninterrupted dialogue' with Pakistan is over. Speaking at a book launch, he discussed India's complex relations with major and neighboring powers, including China. He emphasized that history and politics shape India's regional relationships, mentioning ongoing debates around SAARC and BIMSTEC.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar declared on Friday that the era of 'uninterrupted dialogue' with Pakistan has ended, asserting that India will actively respond to events, whether they take a positive or negative turn.

In his remarks during the launch of 'Strategic Conundrum: Reshaping India's Foreign Policy' by former diplomat Rajiv Sikri, Jaishankar highlighted the complexities faced by India in dealing with major powers and neighboring countries, singling out China as a 'double conundrum' given its dual role as both.

He noted that India's regional relationships are influenced by the interplay of history and politics, mentioning the ongoing discussions around SAARC and BIMSTEC as examples of the challenges of regionalization. On the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, he firmly stated that the abrogation of Article 370 is a settled matter. Additionally, Jaishankar commented on India's strong societal ties with Afghanistan, indicating a mutual goodwill between the countries.

(With inputs from agencies.)