Era of uninterrupted dialogue with Pakistan over: Jaishankar

New Delhi, Aug 30: External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, speaking at a book launch event in New Delhi today, firmly stated that the “era of uninterrupted dialogue” with Pakistan is over, emphasising that actions have consequences.

He highlighted India’s unwavering stance that New Delhi would not resume regular diplomatic talks with Islamabad until Pakistan takes effective measures to curb terror groups involved in cross-border terrorism. “So far as Jammu and Kashmir is concerned, Article 370 is done,” Jaishankar asserted.

The minister’s comments have sparked considerable speculation, about whether India will attend the SCO meeting in Islamabad.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, revealed on Thursday that Pakistan had extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Islamabad.

The SCO heads of government meeting is scheduled for October 15-16, preceded by a series of ministerial and senior officials’ meetings focusing on various areas of cooperation among member states.

Baloch confirmed that invitations had been sent to the leaders of all member countries, adding that some nations had already confirmed their participation. However, she did not disclose which countries had responded affirmatively.

This development comes against the backdrop of Pakistan’s former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s visit to India in May last year for the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting, marking the first such visit by a Pakistani foreign minister in nearly 12 years. Bhutto Zardari later described the visit as a “productive and positive decision.”

Despite the invitation, the ministry of External Affairs has remained silent on whether Prime Minister Modi will attend the SCO meeting.

The uncertainty is further compounded by the ongoing elections in Jammu and Kashmir, which are set to conclude by October 4. It is widely speculated that New Delhi may not announce its decision until after the election results are declared.

During his speech at the book release of Ambassador Rajiv Sikri;s book, “Strategic Conundrums: Reshaping India’s Foreign Policy,” Jaishankar also addressed the broader challenges of maintaining diplomatic relations with neighbouring countries. “For every country, neighbours are always a conundrum.

They can never be solved. They are continuing relationships which will always throw up problems,” he said, citing recent diplomatic issues with the Maldives and Bangladesh.

“People sometimes come and say that’s happened in Bangladesh and this has happened in the Maldives… they need to look around the world and tell me which country doesn’t face challenges with neighbours. It is in the very nature of being a neighbour that this will happen.”

India’s relationship with Pakistan remains volatile, with border disputes in Jammu and Kashmir serving as a regular flashpoint. New Delhi has consistently raised concerns over Pakistan’s support for cross-border terrorism, stressing that “terror and talks” cannot coexist. The bilateral relationship, India maintains, hinges on Pakistan’s ability to control terror groups operating from its territory.

In the region, many leaders from Jammu and Kashmir’s regional parties have been advocating for dialogue and diplomacy with Pakistan as a means to achieve lasting peace.

However, it remains unclear whether Modi or Minister of the External Affairs will make the trip to Pakistan for the SCO meeting, with Pakistan currently holding the rotating chairmanship of the organisation.