Talks with Pakistan can only happen on terror, return of PoK: PM Modi draws red line

NEW DELHI: In a firm and unsparing address to the nation on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that India will only engage with Pakistan on two issues, terrorism and the return of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), ruling out any possibility of normal diplomatic dialogue.“If there will be talks between India and Pakistan, it will only be on terrorism and PoK,” PM Modi said during a televised address, days after India’s precision missile and drone strikes under Operation Sindoor targeted terror hubs across Pakistan and PoJK.The Prime Minister said the nation had witnessed both India’s strength and restraint in recent days. He saluted the armed forces, intelligence agencies, and scientists, calling the success of Operation Sindoor a “pledge fulfilled” on behalf of millions of Indians.The offensive, launched after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 in which 26 were killed, marked a turning point, PM Modi said.“This was not just a terror attack, it was an attempt to break the harmony of the nation. They killed civilians after asking their faith, in front of children. It was barbaric,” he said, calling the attack a personal pain.Reiterating India's shift in doctrine, PM Modi said terror and trade cannot go hand in hand, nor can blood and water flow together. He warned that Pakistan’s continued support for terror will lead to its own destruction.“Pakistan’s military and government have nurtured terrorism. If Pakistan wants to survive, it must dismantle its terror infrastructure. There is no other path to peace,” he said.He described Operation Sindoor as a reflection of the nation’s will, executed with "precision strikes" on known terror facilities in Bahawalpur, Muridke and other locations tied to global attacks like 9/11 and the London Tube bombings. Over 100 terrorists were neutralized, including high-ranking operatives.“When terrorists tried to dishonour our women, we destroyed their headquarters,” PM Modi declared.PM Modi said the world now sees that India will respond boldly and decisively, with a new red line drawn, one that prioritizes justice, deterrence and national dignity.“This is not an era of war, but it is also not an era to tolerate terrorism,” he concluded.