India has responded to remarks made by Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who called for creating an environment conducive to improving relations between the two nations. Addressing the comments during a weekly briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaisawal stated, “The relevant ‘T’ word is terrorism, not Tango.”
Earlier in the week, Dar had urged India to work towards better ties, emphasizing that “it takes two to tango,” as reported by ARY News. He had also called for efforts to create a favorable atmosphere to ease tensions between the two countries. #WATCH | Delhi: On Pakistan Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar's statement regarding ties with India 'it takes two to tango', MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, " The relevant 'T' word there is 'terrorism' and not 'tango'..." pic.twitter.com/2hrTW75ScR
Historical Strain in Indo-Pak Relations
Relations between India and Pakistan have been fraught, particularly since India conducted airstrikes on a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Balakot, Pakistan, in February 2019. The action was a response to the Pulwama terror attack. Following this, Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties after India revoked Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
In May 2023, Pakistan’s then-Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari attended a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Goa, marking a rare instance of high-level engagement amidst the ongoing tensions.
Sports Diplomacy and the ICC Champions Trophy
Diplomatic strain has also extended to sports. Concerns arose over India's participation in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled to be held in Pakistan, citing security and diplomatic issues. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that the Indian team would not travel to Pakistan. According to the ICC schedule, the tournament will feature 15 matches across Pakistan and Dubai, with the much-anticipated India-Pakistan clash set for February 23, 2025, in Dubai.
Since their last bilateral cricket series in 2012-13, India and Pakistan have only competed in ICC multi-nation events. International cricket in Pakistan was largely suspended between 2009 and 2015 following a terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team.
SCO Summit in Pakistan
In October 2024, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar attended the SCO Summit in Islamabad, marking his first visit to Pakistan in nearly nine years. Despite this rare interaction, tensions persist over longstanding issues, including Kashmir and cross-border terrorism.
As the two nations navigate a complex web of historical grievances and geopolitical challenges, substantive progress remains elusive, underscoring the deep-rooted mistrust that continues to define their relationship.
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