New Delhi, May 29 -- Responding to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's recent overture for 'peace talks' with India, including on counterterrorism, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) firmly reiterated India's longstanding position.

During a weekly press conference, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal underscored that New Delhi's approach towards Islamabad remains "clear and consistent" - that terrorism and talks "cannot go hand in hand".

Randhir Jaiswal said, "I would like to begin by stating that our bilateral approach towards Pakistan has been clear and consistent. We want to reiterate that terrorism and talks cannot go hand in hand."

He emphasized that any conversation on terrorism must begin with Pakistan handing over terrori...