“Terror Talks First”: PM Modi Draws Red Lines on Pakistan, POK & Peace Process
New Delhi/Shimla: In a hard-hitting national address on Monday evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it crystal clear that India is open to talks with Pakistan—but only if the conversation begins with terrorism and ends with accountability and PoK
."If Pakistan wants to survive, it must dismantle its terror infrastructure, or it will CEASE TO EXIST" , said PM Modi
Laying down his government's uncompromising stance, the PM stated, “Water and blood cannot flow together.”
With this, he sent a strong message that business-as-usual is off the table as long as Pakistan continues to sponsor cross-border terrorism.
The PM reiterated that if and when dialogue resumes, terrorism will top the agenda, followed by Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), and only then can trade or any broader peace discussions follow.
"We are ready to talk—but let it be about terror first, PoK second, and only then can other issues come to the table.Today, every terrorist knows the consequences of wiping Sindoor from the foreheads of our sisters and daughters: PM
Terrorists dared to wipe the Sindoor from the foreheads of our sisters; that's why India destroyed the very headquarters of terror, PM said
This is not an era of war, but it is not an era of terrorism either, said PM
You can’t expect us to shake hands with one hand while the other wields a weapon,” said Modi.
His statement comes just days after a fragile ceasefire understanding was announced, and both countries agreed to scale down military posturing.
But the PM's address left no room for ambiguity—peace won't come wrapped in photo-ops or symbolic meetings.
Political observers believe the PM’s words are a direct warning to Pakistan's new leadership and a signal to the international community that India seeks peace, but not at the cost of national security or territorial integrity.
The speech has also sparked support across party lines, with defence experts and former diplomats backing the “talks on terror first” framework as a necessary reset in the peace process.
India is willing to talk—but not tolerate. Terror and trade won’t share the same table. And when the talks begin, PoK is not off the radar, PM asserted.
