India intends to have good relations with Pakistan, the government said on Wednesday.
The government used diplomatic channels to address humanitarian cases even as ties suffered last year.
In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said the dialogue process planned during her December 2015 visit to Islamabad could not take place due to the terrorist attack on Pathankot airbase in January 2016 and other attacks that emanated from Pakistan that year.
Period of turmoil
“During this period, the Governments of India and Pakistan remained in touch through bilateral diplomatic channels, including for addressing all urgent humanitarian and other matters concerning people-to-people ties,” said the statement.
She also said the government’s diplomatic efforts prompted the international community to pressure Pakistan against sponsoring terrorism and counter Islamabad’s Kashmir campaign.
Peace first, then dialogue
“The government was also able to effectively neutralise Pakistan’s efforts to internationalise Kashmir issue,” the ministerial statement said.
Meanwhile, the government also made it clear to India’s interlocutors that normalisation of relations between India and Pakistan through a peaceful bilateral dialogue can take place only in a conducive environment, totally free from any kind of violence and terrorism,” the statement added.
