File photo: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
India today asserted that it sticks to the commitment between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Ufa to engage in a substantive discussion on terrorism.
Speaking at an event in Lucknow, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, "We are firm on our stand that whatever talks, dialogue are held with Pakistan, that should only and only be on terrorism."
He also said that talks and terrorism can never go together.
The Home Minister said India's intentions are clear to have dialogue with Pakistan, but that should be only on terrorism.
"We stick to commitment between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Ufa to engage in a substantive discussion on terrorism," he said, adding, "It is to be seen what our neighbour have to say."
Mr Singh's remarks came against the backdrop of the upcoming Indo-Pak NSA-level talks appearing to be virtually off with the two countries locked in a confrontation over Kashmiri separatists leading to a blame game.
India made it clear to Pakistan that a meeting between the separatists and Pakistan's National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz, who is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on Sunday for the talks with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval, was unacceptable.