Pakistan Signals Readiness for Dialogue, India Stresses Terror-Free Talks and PoK Issue

Islamabad: Amid mounting pressure at home and abroad, Pakistan has once again indicated that it is open to resuming talks with India under the framework of a “composite dialogue.” The offer comes at a time when Islamabad faces both diplomatic isolation and military challenges. However, New Delhi has firmly underlined that its priorities remain unchanged—any engagement with Pakistan can only happen if it addresses terrorism and the return of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, told reporters on Friday that Islamabad was “ready for dialogue on all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir,” but added that his country would not “beg for talks.” He also attempted to project military strength, claiming that Pakistan’s forces had demonstrated their capability on land and in the air, and warning that they could retaliate even at sea if provoked.

India, however, remains firm. Officials reiterated that peace talks cannot resume while Pakistan continues to shelter terror groups and support cross-border violence. The government pointed to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people, as evidence of Pakistan’s role in fostering terrorism. In response to that attack, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, a coordinated military action that struck at terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK.

Senior Indian officials stressed that Islamabad must first dismantle its “terror ecosystem” and vacate PoK before any dialogue can even be considered. “Talks and terror cannot go together,” one official said, reaffirming New Delhi’s long-standing position.