India on Thursday said that Pakistan must walk the talk on terror first by taking immediate and verifiable steps, till then India will not hold talks, sources told NewsMobile.
The message came even as Pakistan’s Prime Minister gave an offer of talks and Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that they are willing to consider returning the Indian pilot if it means de-escalation of tensions between the two countries.
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India would not allow Pakistan to the pilot captured by Pakistan when as a bargaining tool or a negotiating point.
Sources said that “We shouldn’t allow Pakistan to believe that we are a hostage of one individual. We are not going to do a deal on the IAF pilot.”
India has not asked for consular access but the immediate release of the IAF pilot. Sources also said that India will act if anything happens to the pilot.
Sources said that New Delhi believes that it has a diplomatic edge as the global community has supported its stand.
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India has never escalated the situation, we have exercised responsibility and restraint. Indian sources. Pakistan has lied all along – JeM, about two pilots in custody, on Indian ships approaching and missile strikes.
“We are ready for talks on Kartarpur. They (Pakistan) had called it off just as they had closed airspace and stopped Samjhauta Express. We are trying to appear reasonable, they are creating a war hysteria,” sources added.
India on Wednesday handed over the Pulwama dossier to Pakistan after their PM asked for actionable evidence. The dossier held proof that the Feb 14 attack on the CRPF vehicles was carried out by Pakistan-based terrorist outfit JeM, which is headed by Masood Azhar.
India has the support of four permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and therefore the ‘upper hand’. “We have many channels with Pakistan we don’t need third parties,” sources added.
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