External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar delivered a pointed critique of India's neighbourhood challenges on Friday, making a veiled but unmistakable reference to Pakistan's support for terrorism. Addressing a gathering of students at IIT Madras, the minister stated that while one can have difficult neighbours, India unfortunately finds itself in that very situation.
A Firm Stance on Terrorism and Self-Defence
Jaishankar's remarks come against the backdrop of long-strained ties between New Delhi and Islamabad, which saw a further severe deterioration following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. That assault, which claimed the lives of 26 innocent civilians, was conclusively established to have been designed and backed by elements across the border in Pakistan.
"When you have bad neighbours, if you look to the one to the west. If a country decides that it will deliberately, persistently, and unrepentantly continue with terrorism, we have a right to defend our people against terrorism. We will exercise that right," Jaishankar asserted in a firm tone.
Asserting Strategic Autonomy: No Place for External Mediation
The External Affairs Minister also used the platform to subtly but clearly reiterate India's long-standing position on resolving bilateral issues, appearing to dismiss any notion of third-party mediation. This is seen as a reference to past claims by figures like former US President Donald Trump about facilitating talks between India and Pakistan.
Emphasising the principle of strategic autonomy, Jaishankar declared, "How we exercise that right is up to us. Nobody can tell us what we should or should not do. We will do whatever we have to do to defend ourselves." This statement underscores India's resolve to handle its security and diplomatic challenges on its own terms.
Linking Terrorism to Cooperation: The Indus Waters Treaty Example
Jaishankar provided a concrete example of how continued hostility, primarily through terrorism, erodes the foundation for cooperative agreements. He pointed to the Indus Waters Treaty, a pact now under suspension, which was agreed upon many years ago to manage water sharing between the two nations.
"...if you had decades of terrorism, there is no good neighbourliness. If there is no good neighbourliness, you don't get the benefits of that good neighbourliness," he explained. The minister highlighted the inherent contradiction in Pakistan's approach, stating, "You can't say, 'Please share water with me, but I will continue terrorism with you.' That's not reconcilable."
His comments make it clear that India views goodwill and hostility as mutually exclusive. The message from the highest diplomatic levels is unambiguous: normalcy in relations and the benefits of treaties cannot be expected while the threat of state-sponsored terrorism persists.
