India rejects Pak report claim on talks, says take verifiable action against terrorism

India on Thursday dismissed as "fake news" a Pakistani media report claiming New Delhi is ready for talks with Islamabad, saying there is no change in its position that Pakistan must first take "verifiable" and "irreversible" action against terrorism for resumption of dialogue.

Rejecting the report, the Ministry of External Affairs said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made no reference to talks in their response to congratulatory messages from their Pakistani counterparts.

A report in the Express Tribune on Thursday claimed that Modi and Jaishankar responded to Islamabad's renewed call for dialogue by conveying New Delhi's desire to engage with all countries, including Pakistan, for the prosperity of the region.

Responding to the queries regarding the replies to congratulatory messages by Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "As per the established diplomatic practice, PM and EAM have responded to the congratulatory messages received from their counterparts in Pakistan."