Our Relations with Pakistan Will Be Bilateral, Says EAM Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reaffirmed India's long-standing position on its policy towards Pakistan, asserting categorically that all dealings will be bilateral. Addressing the media, Jaishankar asserted that this is a "national consensus" that has shaped India's foreign policy for decades, and there is "absolutely no change in that."

"This has been our stand for several decades, across governments and political parties. The issue of how we approach Pakistan is a national policy, and it is deeply ingrained in bilateralism," Jaishankar said.His remarks are coming in the backdrop of sustained talks in international circles regarding the prospects of third-party mediation between India and Pakistan. Jaishankar, however, brushed aside any such talk, repeating that India does not invite foreign intervention in its issues with Pakistan.

The minister's assertion is a clear follow-through of India's consistent foreign policy strategy, particularly since the Shimla Agreement of 1972, which established the cornerstones for the settlement of disputes between India and Pakistan on a bilateral basis. The Lahore Declaration in 1999 reinforced this structure further, emphasizing dialogue and cooperation in the absence of outside interference.The two nations have had tensions over a number of issues, with the most prominent being the Jammu & Kashmir situation and cross-border terrorism. India has continuously maintained that productive dialogue can only be achieved in a violence-free and terrorism-free atmosphere. Jaishankar's words are also a warning to foreign powers that have on some occasions stood willing to offer to mediate or broker discussions. To India, the message is straightforward: third-party interference will not be allowed.

At a moment when the international geopolitical order is in a fast-paced transformation, India's stance reflects its own desire to manage regional affairs on its own terms. It also represents domestic political consensus that foreign policy towards Pakistan is not to be altered according to political cycles. As Jaishankar put it, "It's a settled matter. Our dealings with Pakistan will remain bilateral, that is the only way forward."