NEW DELHI: India responded cautiously to Pakistan army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa's remark that it was time to extend the hand of peace "in all directions", with the foreign ministry saying that the onus to create the right conditions for improvement in ties was on Pakistan. The government said its position on ties with Pakistan was well-known.
"India desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence. The onus is on Pakistan for creating such an environment," said MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava.
"We stand firmly committed to the ideal of mutual respect and peaceful co-existence. It is time to extend a hand of peace in all directions," Bajwa had said earlier this week, in remarks apparently aimed at India. He had also said Pakistan and India must resolve the long-standing issue of Jammu & Kashmir "in a dignified and peaceful manner as per the aspirations of people of Jammu & Kashmir".
India has maintained that there can be no dialogue till the time Pakistan stops promoting cross-border terrorism. The last time the two countries had any substantive talks was in December 2015 when they launched the comprehensive bilateral dialogue process.