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Talks with Pak only on PoK: Rajnath

By The Assam Tribune

KALKA (HARYANA), Aug 18 - Defence Minister Rajnath Singh here on Sunday said there would be no talks with Pakistan unless it acts against terrorists and stops supporting terror activities.

He further said if talks were held with Pakistan in future, they would be only on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). � If talks take place (with Pakistan), it will be on PoK and not on any other issue,� he said.

Singh said this while addressing a public rally ahead of the flagging off the BJP�s Jan Ashirwad Yatra for the October assembly polls in Haryana.

On the scrapping of the provision granting special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, Singh said the decisions had sent jitters to Pakistan and it became a cause of concern for them.

�Now it (Pakistan) is knocking every door and approaching various countries for help. Have we committed any crime? And they are trying to threaten us. However, America, perceived to be the most powerful country in the world by people, has snubbed Pakistan, telling them to initiate a dialogue with India,� he said.

On what issue should we have talks and why, the Defence Minister asked. He said people in Pakistan say there should be talks between India and Pakistan. �About what should we talk? What�s the issue on which there should be talks? Why there should be a talk? If there would be any talk with Pakistan, it would happen only when Pakistan stops supporting terror from its soil,� he asserted.

Singh said for the present government, India�s respect, pride and prestige was above all and they were committed to this and it was not any election stunt. He also accused Pakistan of wanting to destabilise and weaken India through terrorism.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who remained in denial on Balakot strike, had recently said that India was planning a bigger strike than Balakot which meant he had admitted that the Balakot air strike took place and a large number of terrorists were eliminated, the Defence Minister said. � PTI

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