Pak Uses Terrorism As ‘Instrument Of Statecraft’, India Won’t Skirt This Problem Anymore: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during his visit to Singapore, emphasised that Pakistan’s sponsorship of terrorism is a significant concern for India and cannot be ignored any longer. Speaking at the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS) of the National University of Singapore (NUS), Jaishankar underscored the need for a stable neighbourhood, highlighting the persistent threat posed by terrorism emanating from Pakistan.

According to news agency PTI, Jaishankar expressed his views during a Q&A round held after his lecture session on his book ‘Why Bharat Matters’.

“Every country wants a stable neighbourhood…if nothing else, you want at least a quiet neighbourhood,” he responded when asked about India’s ties with Pakistan, as quoted by PTI. “However, unfortunately, it is not the same with India,” he added.

Stressing that Pakistan has been sponsoring terrorism against India, Jaishankar asked, “How do you deal with a neighbour who does not hide the fact that they use terrorism as an instrument of statecraft?  It’s not a one-off happening…but very sustained, almost at an industry level…So what we have come to conclude is that we have to find a way of addressing (the menace), that dodging the problem gets us nowhere, it only invites more trouble.”

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In India Now, The Mood Is Not To Overlook Terrorists: S Jaishankar

Acknowledging that there is no quick solution to this issue, Jaishankar affirmed India’s commitment to confronting terrorism head-on. He emphasised that India will no longer overlook terrorist activities and will address the problem with honesty and determination.

“I don’t have a quick instantaneous fix (to this issue). But what I can tell you is that India will not skirt this problem anymore. We are not going to say, ‘well, that happened and let’s continue our dialogue’…we have a problem and we must be honest enough to face up to that problem, however difficult it is…we should not give the other country a free pass, saying there’s nothing they can do about it or it’s a very hard problem, or there’s so much else at stake that let us overlook,” he emphasised, as quoted by PTI.

“In India now, the mood is not to overlook terrorists,” Jaishankar stated, highlighting India’s resolve to hold Pakistan accountable for its actions.

The remarks by Jaishankar come following tensions between India and Pakistan over cross-border terrorism. Pakistan has consistently denied allegations of sponsoring terrorism, but India remains steadfast in its efforts to combat the menace.

The situation soured significantly after Indian fighter jets struck a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist training camp deep inside Pakistani territory on February 26, 2019, retaliating against the Pulwama terror attack, which resulted in the deaths of 40 CRPF jawans. Tensions escalated further following India’s decision to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and divide the state into two union territories in August 2019. India has consistently conveyed to Pakistan its desire for normal, peaceful relations, devoid of terrorism, hostility, and violence.