India’s Jaishankar: Pakistan Can’t Pretend Ignorance on Terror
India’s Jaishankar Blasts Pakistan Over Terrorism
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar didn’t mince words when he criticized Pakistan for its ties to terrorism during an interview with Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant on Thursday. He directly refuted the idea that Islamabad is oblivious to the terror networks operating within its borders.
Jaishankar stated that both the Pakistani state and its military are deeply involved in terrorism. He was in the Netherlands, India’s second-largest trading partner in the European Union, on a diplomatic mission to strengthen India-Dutch relations.
‘Pakistan Can’t Hide Its Involvement’
Jaishankar emphasized that the world should not accept Pakistan’s claims of ignorance about terrorism. He pointed out that notorious terrorists on the UN sanctions list operate openly in Pakistan’s major cities. He used a pointed analogy, questioning if anyone would believe that a government wouldn’t know if large military training centers were located within a city like Amsterdam.
He said, “The most notorious terrorists on the United Nations (UN) sanctions list are all in Pakistan. They operate in the big cities, in broad daylight. Their addresses are known. Their activities are known. Their mutual contacts are known. So let’s not pretend that Pakistan is not involved. The state is involved. The army is up to its neck in it.”
Ceasefire Doesn’t Equal End of Terror
While acknowledging the ceasefire agreement reached on May 10, which has halted military actions between India and Pakistan for now, Jaishankar warned that there would be consequences if terrorist attacks from Pakistan continue. He stressed that Pakistan must understand the seriousness of the situation.
Kashmir Issue Separate from Terrorism
Jaishankar made it clear that for India, the issues of terrorism and Jammu and Kashmir are distinct. He reiterated India’s stance that terrorism is a serious international crime that should not be condoned or justified. He cited the recent terrorist attack in Srinagar, which killed 26 people, mostly civilians, as a reminder of Pakistan’s willingness to resort to such violence.
He also stated that India maintains its position on the Kashmir issue, which it considers a bilateral matter between India and Pakistan. While acknowledging US President Donald Trump’s offer to mediate, Jaishankar reaffirmed that India prefers to resolve the issue directly with Pakistan.
Modi’s Warning
Jaishankar’s strong words echoed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s warning to Pakistan and terrorists earlier in the day. Modi emphasized that India would respond forcefully to any attempt to harm its citizens.
