External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar took a firm stance against Pakistan’s terror links during an interview with Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant on Thursday, stating unequivocally that the Pakistani state and its army are deeply involved in supporting terrorism. The remarks came during his diplomatic visit to the Netherlands, aimed at bolstering bilateral ties with India’s second-largest trading partner in the European Union.
“Let’s Not Pretend Pakistan Is Unaware”
In his sharp comments, Jaishankar dismissed the notion that Islamabad is oblivious to the terror infrastructure flourishing on its soil. Drawing a blunt analogy, he asked rhetorically, “Suppose that there were large military centres in the middle of a city like Amsterdam where tens of thousands of people gathered for military training—would you say your government knows nothing about that? Of course not.”
He reiterated India’s long-held view that Pakistan is the “epicentre of terrorism”, clarifying, “I am not suggesting that, I am stating that.” He noted that several individuals on the UN sanctions list—classified as notorious terrorists—reside openly in Pakistan’s cities with their addresses, operations, and networks publicly known.
State and Army Complicit
According to Jaishankar, the complicity of Pakistan’s state machinery is undeniable. “Let’s not pretend that Pakistan is not involved. The state is involved. The army is up to its neck in it,” he said, pointing to the systematic sheltering of terrorist groups within Pakistani territory.
He lauded India’s armed forces for Operation Sindoor—India’s recent high-profile counter-terror operation—and emphasized that the country deserves international appreciation for its proactive stance against terrorism.
Ceasefire and Consequences
While Jaishankar acknowledged that the ceasefire understanding reached on May 10 has temporarily paused active military engagements between India and Pakistan, he issued a stern warning: “If terrorist attacks from Pakistan continue, there will be consequences. The Pakistanis must understand that very well.”
Terrorism and Kashmir: Separate Issues
Clarifying India’s policy position, Jaishankar separated the issues of Jammu and Kashmir from terrorism. “For India, terrorism is an independent, completely unacceptable international crime that should not be condoned or justified,” he said, making it clear that there will be no conflation of national security with political discourse on Kashmir.
Jaishankar’s comments reflect New Delhi’s growing assertiveness on the global stage regarding cross-border terrorism and signal India’s unwillingness to let diplomatic niceties cloud its core security concerns.
