New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, while on a three-day visit to Singapore, emphasized India’s firm stance against terrorism, particularly highlighting the role of Pakistan in sponsoring terrorism at what he described as an “industry level”.
Speaking during a question-and-answer session following his lecture on his book ‘Why Bharat Matters’ at the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS) of the National University of Singapore (NUS), Jaishankar underscored India’s commitment to confronting the issue head-on.
Addressing the audience, Jaishankar remarked on the universal desire for a stable neighbourhood, stating, “Every country wants a stable neighbourhood…if nothing else, you want at least a quiet neighbourhood.” However, he lamented that India’s experience with its neighbour, Pakistan, has been far from peaceful due to Pakistan’s persistent sponsorship of terrorism against India.
Jaishankar highlighted Pakistan’s unabashed use of terrorism as an instrument of statecraft, characterising it as a sustained effort, almost akin to an industry. He stressed the necessity for India to confront this challenge directly, stating, “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.”
Acknowledging the complexity of the issue, Jaishankar admitted that there is no quick fix, but affirmed India’s resolve to no longer ignore the problem. He reiterated India’s commitment to honesty and transparency in addressing the issue of terrorism emanating from Pakistan, asserting, “India will not skirt this problem anymore.”
Jaishankar emphasized that the prevailing sentiment in India is to not overlook the activities of terrorists, indicating a shift in approach towards dealing with terrorism. He emphasized the importance of not giving Pakistan a free pass on the issue, asserting that India will not shy away from holding Pakistan accountable for its actions.
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