ISLAMABAD: Indian National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval said on Tuesday India desired “normal relations” with Pakistan but had a low threshold for terrorism.
The two nuclear-armed South Asian neighbors, who gained independence from British colonial rule in 1947, are archrivals mainly because of the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir. The region is divided between India and Pakistan but both claim it in its entirety.
Relations between them were further strained after India unilaterally abolished the autonomous status of its part of Kashmir in August 2019.
India accuses Pakistan of funding armed militants, along with separatist groups in India’s portion of the region. Islamabad denies the accusation, saying it provides only diplomatic and moral support to the Kashmiri people.
“We have good relations with our neighbors including Pakistan,” Doval told ANI in an interview. “We would like to have normal relations with Pakistan but the certainly tolerance threshold for terrorism is very low.”
“We can’t have peace and war at the choice of our adversary. If we’ve to protect our interests, then we will decide when and with whom and on what terms we will have peace,” he said.
The Pakistani foreign office has not yet commented on Doval’s latest comments.
Earlier this year, tensions were stoked once more between the neighbous after India accidentally fired a missile into Pakistani territory because of a “technical malfunction.” Pakistan has called for a joint probe.
