India Rejects Pakistan's Call for Mutual Efforts, Cites Terrorism as Key Issue

India emphasizes that countering terrorism is a prerequisite for improving bilateral ties, responding to Pakistan's 'two to tango' remark.

Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar called for mutual efforts to normalize relations with India, stating 'it takes two to tango.'
India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal countered, emphasizing that 'the relevant T-word is terrorism, not tango.'
India maintains that Pakistan must take concrete steps to address cross-border terrorism before bilateral engagements can advance, including in trade and commerce.
Relations between the two nations remain strained following incidents such as the 2008 Mumbai attacks and the 2019 Pulwama bombing, both linked to Pakistan-based terror groups.
India and Pakistan recently exchanged lists of nuclear installations under a long-standing bilateral agreement, reflecting limited ongoing cooperation despite broader tensions.