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New Delhi: India’s relations and dealings with Pakistan will be “strictly bilateral,” which has been a national consensus for many years, and there is “absolutely no change” in that position, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Thursday.

Interacting with reporters on the sidelines of an event in the capital, he also noted that the UN Security Council had underlined the need to hold the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack accountable, and on the morning of May 7, “we held them accountable through Operation Sindoor.”

India carried out precision strikes on terror infrastructure early on May 7. Following this, Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9, and 10. These actions were strongly countered by the Indian side.

The hostilities ended with an understanding to stop military actions, reached after talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both sides on May 10.

“To me things are fairly clear. So, let me take this opportunity to spell out our position. One, where Pakistan is concerned, our relations, our dealings with them will be bilateral, and strictly bilateral.

That is a national consensus for many years, and there is absolutely no change in that consensus that dealings with Pakistan will be bilateral,” Jaishankar stated.

He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it “very clear” that any talks with Pakistan will be only on terror.

“…Pakistan has a list of terrorists who need to be handed over. They have to shut down terrorist infrastructure, they know what to do,” the external affairs minister said.

Jaishankar reiterated that New Delhi is prepared to discuss terrorism with Islamabad.

On the Kashmir issue, he firmly said, “The only thing that remains to be discussed on Kashmir is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). We are open to discussing that with Pakistan… the government’s position is very, very clear.”