External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar stated on Friday, 24 May, that Germany has recognised India’s right to defend itself against terrorism, following the recent Pahalgam terror attack and the Indian response through Operation Sindoor. Speaking at the German Council on Foreign Relations, Jaishankar highlighted that the international community, including Germany, has shown strong solidarity with India on the issue.
“When it comes to terrorism, today, there is virtually no country which would say they approve of what was done and won’t condemn it,” he remarked. Stressing India’s sovereign right to protect its citizens, he added, “If I say I have the right to defend myself, my people, and secure my country, much of the world will agree with me. Germany does.”
Jaishankar appreciated Germany’s swift and unequivocal condemnation of the terrorist attack, noting that German Minister Wadephul had reaffirmed this stance on May 7 and again during the present interaction.
Describing the terror incident as part of a larger strategy to destabilise India, he explained that the objective was to instill fear, disrupt Kashmir’s tourism economy, and sow religious discord. Jaishankar further noted the cross-border nature of the threat, stating that terrorism has long been a tool employed by India’s neighbour.
“Our response was strictly against terrorism,” he said, clarifying that the targets were terror headquarters and sites, and that India’s actions had been widely understood and supported by the international community. “In this case, terrorists happen to be located in the country next door because that country, for many years, has used terrorism as a tool,” he asserted.
Marking 25 years of strategic partnership between India and Germany, Jaishankar also outlined potential areas for enhanced cooperation, including defence, talent mobility, digital technologies, and green growth. “A good start would be defence and security,” he said, adding that both countries recognize the mutual value they bring to such collaborations.
He concluded by stressing the importance of stronger India-EU ties in a time of growing geopolitical challenges, stating that the India-Germany relationship has become more significant than ever before.
