External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has recently delivered a series of strong messages concerning terrorism, with a particular focus on Pakistan's role and the international community's approach to the issue. These statements underscore India's firm stance against cross-border terrorism and its commitment to addressing the problem bilaterally, without external interference.
Jaishankar has consistently emphasized that Pakistan remains an epicenter of terrorism. In an interview with the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant on Thursday, May 22, 2025, he stated, "I am not suggesting that, I am stating that" when referring to Pakistan as the epicenter. He went on to dismiss the notion that Islamabad is unaware of the terror networks operating within its borders. To illustrate this point, he drew a parallel, questioning whether a government could feign ignorance if large military centers existed in a major city like Amsterdam, where thousands gathered for military training.
He has also directly addressed the involvement of the Pakistani state and its army in fostering terrorism. He said that Pakistan's state is involved and their army is up to its neck on it. He advised that the world should not go along with the narrative that Pakistan is unaware of what is going on. "The most notorious terrorists on the United Nations (UN) sanctions list are all in Pakistan. They operate in the big cities, in broad daylight. Their addresses are known. Their activities are known. Their mutual contacts are known. So let's not pretend that Pakistan is not involved. The state is involved. The army is up to its neck in it".
Adding to his assertive statements, Jaishankar has warned that continued terrorist attacks from Pakistan would have consequences, saying "The Pakistanis must understand that very well". In Germany, Jaishankar affirmed that India would deal with Pakistan purely through bilateral channels.
Furthermore, Jaishankar has criticized Europe for its historical support of military regimes in Pakistan, despite the country's track record of cross-border terrorism and weak democratic governance. During his visit to Berlin, he questioned why "democratic Europe" consistently sided with Pakistan's military rulers, undermining democracy in the region. He highlighted that India has faced continuous border violations by Pakistan since 1947, while Europe turned a blind eye. He pointed to the discovery of Osama bin Laden near Pakistan's military academy in 2011 as evidence of terror-military links.
Jaishankar's strong statements come in the wake of recent events, including the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, which resulted in the loss of 26 civilian lives. In response to this attack, India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ on May 7, targeting nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. According to Indian military sources, the operation led to the elimination of over 100 militants associated with groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.
In light of these developments, Jaishankar has made it clear that India will not tolerate cross-border terrorism and will take necessary measures to defend itself. He also conveyed India's appreciation for Germany's solidarity and understanding that every nation has the right to defend itself against terrorism.
