Won't tolerate nuclear blackmail, any talks with Pak can happen only on terrorism and PoK: PM Modi

New Delhi: Drawing a new line in firming up India’s response against any future acts of Pakistan-sponsored terror, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday declared that the country will not tolerate a “nuclear blackmail” while dealing with its western neighbour. He asserted that talks with Pakistan can happen only on the matters of terrorism and the return of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

“India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail. Operation Sindoor is now India’s new policy against terrorism,” Modi said in his first address to the nation after India struck terror infrastructure in Pakistan last week and the ensuing hostilities along its western front from Kashmir to Sir Creek.

In his 20-minute televised address, Modi made it clear India stopped its military operations only after Pakistan pleaded with it, and promised to refrain from any misadventure. The operations, he said, which will now be India’s policy against terror, have only been halted, and Pakistan’s response will decide India’s next course of action.

Calling the Pahalgam attacks an act of barbarism, the Prime Minister asserted that talks and terror cannot go together. “Blood and water can not flow together,” he said, indicating India would not review its decision on keeping the Indus water treaty in abeyance till Pakistan takes credible actions against terrorists and related infrastructure.

Laying down a broad outline of the “new normal” in dealing with Pakistan, Modi said India will not differentiate between terrorists and their handlers.

“If terrorists attack, we will give a befitting reply. Terror, talks and trade can’t go together. If we talk to Pakistan, it will be on terror and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir,” Modi laid down terms of engagement in what could be seen as a sharp response to the US offer to mediate. The only way to peace is that Pakistan has to dismantle its terror infrastructure, he added.

Saluting the security forces, the PM said the entire nation, every citizen, every community, every class, every political party, unitedly supported India’s action against terrorism in an operation “where India displayed its capabilities and proved its superiority in New Age Warfare”.

“When ‘Nation First’ is our resolve, steely decisions are taken,” he said, dedicating courage shown by armed forces to “mothers, sisters and daughters of this country”. Modi said India’s precision strikes wiped out more than 100 terrorists at “universities of global terrorism” linked to major terror attacks worldwide, including 9/11, the London Tube bombings and the big terrorist attacks in India. The presence of the top Pakistani army officers at the burial of slain terrorists, he said, offers strong evidence of state-sponsored terrorism. Accusing Pakistan of attacking civilian areas and military bases, Modi said Pakistan had “prepared for an attack on the border, but India struck at the heart of Pakistan”.

He warned Pakistan that terrorism perpetuated by its government and army will destroy that country. “If Pakistan wants to survive, it will have to destroy its terror infrastructure. There is no other way to peace. India’s stand is very clear,” Modi further said, laying down terms of any future engagement.