‘No change in J&K policy, issue a bilateral matter between India & Pakistan’: MEA

NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday reaffirmed that its position on Jammu and Kashmir remains unchanged, asserting that the matter is strictly bilateral and must be resolved solely between India and Pakistan.Addressing a press conference in the national capital, ministry of external affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We have a long-standing national position that any issues pertaining to the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally. That stated policy has not changed.”He further said that India’s only outstanding issue with Pakistan on Jammu and Kashmir is the return of territory under illegal occupation. “The outstanding matter is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan,” Jaiswal said.The MEA spokesperson reiterated that there is “no change” in India’s policy on the issue. “Our long-standing position is that the Kashmir issue has to be addressed bilaterally between India and Pakistan; that position has not changed,” he noted.Responding to a query on US President Donald Trump’s comments about trade, foreign ministry spokesperson Jaiswal said, “From the time Operation Sindoor commenced on May 7 till the understanding on cessation of firing and military action on May 10, there were conversations between Indian and US leaders on the evolving military situation. The issue of trade did not come up in any of these discussions.”Trump had earlier claimed that his administration played a key role in brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.“We stopped a nuclear conflict. Millions could have died,” Trump said on Monday, crediting Vice President JD Vance and secretary of state Marco Rubio. He also claimed credit for pushing trade talks to nudge both sides: “I said, ‘If you stop it, we’re doing trade. If you don’t, we’re not.’”India launched Operation Sindoor in response to the terror attack, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Over 100 terrorists were reportedly eliminated. Forces also repelled Pakistan’s subsequent aggression, striking multiple airbases.The ceasefire understanding was reached after Pakistan's DGMO contacted his counterpart in India, leading to a halt in hostilities.