Defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday maintained that the Union Cabinet will take the final decision over whether to continue dialogue with Pakistan. Mr Parrikar had on Monday said that those who harm us must feel the same pain while reacting on the Pathankot attack.
Mr Parrikar, while speaking with mediapersons at Mantralaya on Tuesday, said, “The Prime Minister and the minister of external affairs do take a call on the issue of talks with Pakistan. The (Union) Cabinet will collectively decide on this.”
He was reacting to a question whether or not the secretary-level talks with Pakistan proposed on Friday have been called off. “I am the defence minister. My job is to defend the country. I can’t take a decision on talks with another country,” he said.
Speaking at a seminar in Delhi ahead of Army Day, Mr Parrikar had said that if someone was harming the country then that particular individual or organisation should receive the pain of such activities.
“It is my opinion, and should not be taken as the government’s thinking. I always believe that if anyone harms you, he understands the same language,” he had said.
Later, he elaborated his comment as a ‘basic principle’ where action is needed or such incidents will not come down. Seven Indian soldiers lost their lives while fighting against terrorists at Pathankot airbase last week.
