New Delhi: India on Thursday firmly reiterated its hardline stance on Pakistan and took strong exception to Canada’s handling of Khalistani extremism.

In its weekly media briefing, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) made it clear that no political legitimacy should be extended to separatist forces.

"Political space should not be given to extremist elements," said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, responding to a question on the Khalistan issue in Canada.

Turning to Pakistan, the MEA ruled out any dialogue until Islamabad ends its support for terrorism.

“Terror and trade cannot go together, blood and water cannot go together,” Jaiswal said, in response to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent proposal for talks with India.

“We have been very clear and consistent in our position. I said this in the previous press conference last week, as well as in the press engagement we had on 13th May.

Our position regarding Pakistan, and engagement with Pakistan, has been clear and consistent. You are well aware of our position that any India-Pakistan engagement has to be bilateral,” he said.

The spokesperson underlined that India is open to discussing the return of wanted terrorists, but nothing beyond that. “On terrorism itself, we are open to discussing the handing over to India of noted terrorists whose list was given to Pakistan some years ago.”

Jaiswal also reiterated that the only bilateral discussion India is willing to have on Jammu and Kashmir is the return of Pakistan-occupied territory.

“I would like to underline that any bilateral discussion on Jammu and Kashmir will only be about the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan,” he said.

As for the Indus Water Treaty, Jaiswal said it would remain suspended until Pakistan takes verifiable steps to abandon terrorism. “As the Prime Minister has said, and I would like to repeat his words, terror and talks cannot go together.”