logo
India should not engage with Pak in any sphere, says Abhishek Banerjee

India should not engage with Pak in any sphere, says Abhishek Banerjee

Trinamool Congress National general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Monday said that India must not engage with Pakistan in any sphere and the only engagement with that country should be on the battlefield.
In a post on X, the Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha MP said that for decades, Pakistan has exported terror, bled India, causing irreparable loss to Indian lives and families.
"India must not engage with Pakistan in any sphere. The only engagement we should have with Pakistan is on the battlefield, and the only prize worth winning is Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir", he said in the post.
Banerjee said, "For decades, Pakistan has exported terror, bled our nation by causing irreparable loss to Indian lives and families. And yet, every now and then, we hear calls to keep politics out of sport. No! This has to stop", he added.
The TMC MP said that when a nation wages a proxy war, there is no neutral ground. "There is no cricket pitch wise enough to wash off the blood of our martyrs", he said.
"Our Tricolour flies high not because of the bat and ball, but because of the unmatched courage and valour of our armed forces. We honour our cricketers, and I deeply respect the game. But as a nation, we revere our soldiers. Those who stand guard while we cheer in stadiums, those who bleed while others play", he said in the post.
Banerjee also said, "That extending a handshake to a nation that fires bullets across our borders is not diplomacy - it's a bloody betrayal." "Let justice, not entertainment, be our goal. If there is to be a match with Pakistan, let it be fought at the Line of Control (LoC) and let Pakistan-occupied J&K be the only trophy we seek", he said.
He added, "Anything less is an insult to our martyrs and an injustice and betrayal to the victims of Pahalgam. Period".
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

‘No formal talks on F-35 jets yet': India clarifies after Trump tariff announcement
‘No formal talks on F-35 jets yet': India clarifies after Trump tariff announcement

Indian Express

time30 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

‘No formal talks on F-35 jets yet': India clarifies after Trump tariff announcement

The Indian government on Friday clarified that there have been no formal discussions yet on the potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to India, despite a reference in the India-US joint statement earlier this year. In a written response to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said: 'The US will undertake a review of its policy on releasing fifth-generation fighters (such as the F-35) and undersea systems to India. No formal discussions have been held as yet on this issue.' This statement comes in the backdrop of PM Narendra Modi's February visit to US, during which the two sides elevated defence and strategic cooperation, but without finalising key hardware acquisitions like the F-35. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) was also asked whether any proposal had been made by the US regarding the F-35, and about the role of American diplomats in reducing tensions between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Singh noted that diplomatic conversations were held with various countries, including the US, between April 22 and May 10. 'All our interlocutors were given a common message that India's approach was focused, measured and non-escalatory,' Singh said. He added that on May 9, India had conveyed its position clearly to US Vice President J D Vance. 'With specific reference to the United States, it was conveyed to Vice President J D Vance on May 9 that India would appropriately respond if Pakistan launched a major attack.' Singh clarified that the decision to cease military action was taken bilaterally between India and Pakistan. 'The discussion to cease military action took place directly between India and Pakistan through the existing channels of communication between the two-armed forces, and it was initiated at Pakistan's request.' Responding to a question on third-party mediation, Singh reiterated New Delhi's long-standing policy: 'As regards any proposal for third-party mediation, our longstanding position remains that any outstanding issue with Pakistan will be discussed only bilaterally. This has been made clear to all nations, including by the Prime Minister to the US President.' He emphasised that the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership is underpinned by mutual trust and respect for sovereignty: 'The India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership is anchored in mutual trust, shared interests, goodwill and robust engagement between our citizens. The partnership has also benefited from growing strategic convergence and cooperation.' Singh also reaffirmed that India remains committed to strategic autonomy despite deepening ties with Washington. 'The Government of India closely evaluates all its external partnerships, including those in the defence and strategic domains, through the prism of India's national interest and commitment to strategic autonomy.'

Datanomics: Market access vs mass survival in unequal India-US fields
Datanomics: Market access vs mass survival in unequal India-US fields

Business Standard

time30 minutes ago

  • Business Standard

Datanomics: Market access vs mass survival in unequal India-US fields

The US move on tariff is seen as its pressure tactics on forcing New Delhi to sign a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) with Washington Shikha Chaturvedi Listen to This Article United States (US) President Donald Trump announced imports from India would face a 25 per cent tariff over the existing most-favoured-nation rates, citing India's high trade barriers and 'strenuous and obnoxious' non-monetary restrictions. This move is seen as a pressure tactic to force India into signing a bilateral trade agreement (BTA). However, one of the major bones of contention in the BTA negotiations is agriculture. The US is demanding greater access to Indian agri markets. In the US, farmers receive direct income payments. In India, support is largely through subsidised inputs, public procurement, and food distribution schemes — offering basic

Goyal to meet exporters in Mumbai to discuss impact of 25% US tariff
Goyal to meet exporters in Mumbai to discuss impact of 25% US tariff

Business Standard

time30 minutes ago

  • Business Standard

Goyal to meet exporters in Mumbai to discuss impact of 25% US tariff

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will hold meetings with exporters from different sectors, including food processing, textiles, engineering, and chemicals, from August 2-4 in Mumbai to discuss the implications of 25 per cent tariff announced by the US, an industry official said on Friday. The official added that exporters from segments such as fisheries, engineering, IT, and pharma will also participate in the deliberations. Leather sector exporters are expected to meet the minister on August 4 here. The US on Friday slapped a 25 per cent tariff on India, potentially impacting about half of the $ 86-billion Indian exports to America, while the other half, including pharmaceuticals, electronics, and petroleum products, continued to be exempted from the levy. New Delhi continues to be engaged in talks with the US to work out a trade deal, but will make no compromise on agricultural, daily and genetically modified (GM) products, sources said on Friday. For the sixth round of talks, the US team is coming to India on August 25. The sectors, which would bear the brunt of 25 per cent duty include textiles/ clothing ($ 10.3 billion), gems and jewellery ($ 12 billion), shrimp ($ 2.24 billion), leather and footwear ($ 1.18 billion), animal products ($ 2 billion), chemicals (2.34 billion), and electrical and mechanical machinery (about $ 9 billion). In 2024-25, the bilateral trade between India and the US stood at $ 131.8 billion ($ 86.5 billion exports and $ 45.3 billion imports). Export sectors that will be impacted by the tariff have urged immediate intervention by the government on the matter. Sudhir Sekhri, Chairman, AEPC (Apparel Export Promotion Council), said, "We request immediate government intervention to offset this huge setback. Exporters have their back against the wall and will have to sell below cost to keep their factories running and avoid mass layoffs." Indian shrimp exporters face an unprecedented new challenge in the US market, which contributes close to 48 per cent of their exports, Crisil Ratings Senior Director Rahul Guha said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store