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Sushma Swaraj on China standoff in Rajya Sabha: War not a solution, wisdom is to resolve issues diplomatically

YB WEB DESK. Dated: 8/3/2017 9:46:55 PM

Reiterating government’s stand that terror and talks cannot go together, External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday said that Pakistan’s stand has changed in recent times. Replying to opposition’s questions on government’s foriegn policies in Rajya Sabha, Swaraj said it is the first time after Pathankot terror attack that ‘Pakistan has not gone on a denial mode’. She added that the Indian government has given a roadmap for peace and friendship to Pakistan but “one-sided roadmap can’t function and terror and talks cannot go together.
Talking about Dokhlam standoff, Swaraj targetted Congress party over its vice president Rahul Gandhi’s meeting with Chinese ambassador. She said, Dukhi hu iss baat se ki sabse bade pramukh vipakshi dal ke neta ne China ke stithi janne ke liye Bharat ke netritva ko poochne ke bajaye China ke rajdoot ko bulana theek samjha (Sad with the fact that the leader of the biggest opposition party called China’s ambassador to know about the situation in China when he could have asked about it from the Indian government).”
Swaraj said that “patience is key to resolving problems” because of patience is lost, there can be a provocation on the other side. “We will keep patience to resolve the issue,” she said referring to the Dokalam stand-off issue with China.
“We will keep engaging with China to resolve the dispute,” Swaraj added.
She also rejected any possibility of war with China. In response to questions, she said military readiness is always there as the military is meant to fight wars. “But war cannot resolve problems. So wisdom is to resolve diplomatically,” the external affairs minister asserted.” She expressed confidence that the issue can be resolved through bilateral talks. Also Read | Sushma Swaraj says military readiness