When asked if, after new Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's overtures, India would agree to dialogue in the months before the general elections this year, Modi said, 'India, whether under the UPA or NDA, has never opposed dialogue. This has been our consistent policy'
New Delhi: Ek ladai se Pakistan sudhar jayega, yeh sochna bohot badi galti hogi. Pakistan ko sudharne mein abhi aur samay lagega (It would be a big mistake to think that one battle would be enough to teach Pakistan a lesson. It will take time)," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in an interview to ANI on Tuesday. He, however, said that he is never against dialogue, but for that, there has to be an end to terrorism.
When asked if, after new Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's overtures, India would agree to dialogue in the months before the general elections this year, Modi said, "India, whether under the UPA or NDA, has never opposed dialogue. This has been our consistent policy. This is not about Modi or Manmohan Singh. And we have agreed to talk to Pakistan on all issues. India is on a strong ground. We just say, 'bomb, banduk mein baatcheet sunayi nahi deti (dialogue can't be heard under the shadow of guns and bombs). Terrorism should stop. We have been stressing on this point again and again," Modi said.
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The Prime Minister said that India has mobilised world opinion against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and Islamabad has been isolated.
Modi said that he was proud of the nation's soldiers who crossed the Line of Control (LoC) on his command and conducted daring surgical strikes in Pakistan territory under the cover of the night, inflicting significant losses to the terrorists, yet returning alive. Modi said he was in direct and live contact with the team conducting the strikes and realised that day how strong the Indian Army really was.
On whether he will go to Islamabad if invited for the SAARC summit, Modi said he will cross the bridge when he gets to it.
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