External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said India would never succumb to nuclear blackmail and emphasised that those who sponsor, nurture, and utilise terrorism must be made to pay a heavy price. Speaking at the convocation ceremony of foreign students at Parul University, a private university in Gujarat, Jaishankar asserted, “We will never give in to nuclear blackmail and whatever decisions are to be taken in India’s national interest are taken and will continue to be taken.”
Referring to the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists, the minister said the attack was aimed at devastating the Union Territory’s tourism economy and fuelling religious discord. According to news agency PTI, he said, “In Pahalgam (terror attack) what we saw was an attempt to devastate the tourism economy of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir as well as an evil design to bring (about) religious discord.”
Jaishankar noted that the brutality of the killings required an “exemplary response”, which he said was carried out through the destruction of terrorist command centres, particularly in Bahawalpur and Muridke. “It is imperative that those who sponsor, nurture and utilise terrorism for their ends are made to pay a high cost,” he added.
He further stated, “Times have changed, and epicentres of terrorism are no longer immune (to retaliation),” highlighting India’s policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism. Commenting on the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, he said, “As India responded to the Pahalgam terror attack, it was heartening to witness the understanding from other nations of our right to defend ourselves against terrorism.”
Jaishankar’s remarks come in the wake of ‘Operation Sindoor’, carried out by the Indian armed forces targeting terror hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir following the Pahalgam attack.
S Jaishankar On ‘Transactional’ Diplomacy
The minister also addressed India’s approach to diplomacy while remarking about ‘transactional’ diplomacy of some nations, possibly the US. “In the international community of almost 200 nations, we do have national interest and naturally seek to advance them, but this ought to be done with mutual understanding and mutual benefit as guiding principles. It has become a fashion in some quarters to be openly transactional when it comes to dealing with other nations. Bear in mind that some are actually practising it in reality while preaching the opposite,” he said.
His remark can be seen in light of US President Donald Trump’s repeated assertions that he used trade to negotiate a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, a claim denied by New Delhi.
India Rare Civilisational State Reclaiming Its Rightful Place: S Jaishankar
Underscoring India’s civilisational values, he stated, “In some societies, sentiments and values count a lot and India belongs to that category.” He added that although India’s resources may be limited, “India has a large heart.”
Jaishankar stressed on the importance of mutual respect in international partnerships, saying, “There should be mutual respect for culture, tradition and heritage among partners.” He also warned against emerging forms of global domination, stating, “While the colonial era may be behind us, new forms of domination have emerged, misusing the opening provided by globalisation, they profess to judge us all and pronounce on our credentials. One example is ill-conceived interference in the politics of nations of the global south.”
“India is a rare civilisational state which is today reclaiming its rightful place in the comity of nations,” he concluded.
