On the eve of the anniversary of India’s 2016 surgical strikes in occupied Kashmir, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar delivered a sharp and unyielding message at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) 2024. The message was clear: India will respond to every act of provocation from Pakistan, and this response is not limited to military options.
Jaishankar’s powerful speech followed India’s recent request for modifications to the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, which has been undermined by Pakistan’s continuous cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. India issued a notice on August 30, 2024, signaling its frustration over the persistent conflict and the restrictions on its rightful use of water resources. Pakistan has yet to respond to this notice, indicating the deepening tensions between the two nations.
Pakistan’s Double Standards Exposed
The crux of Jaishankar’s UNGA speech was not just about water rights, but also to counter Pakistan’s escalating rhetoric on international platforms. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been using forums like the UN to try and link the Gaza conflict with Kashmir, aiming to draw a misleading parallel between the two. Sharif’s attempts were quickly dismantled by a junior Indian diplomat, before Jaishankar himself delivered a cutting response.
The Indian External Affairs Minister was blunt in his criticism, stating that Pakistan’s economy is now gauged by the level of religious radicalization, not its economic growth. He emphasized that Bharat’s focus is on reclaiming what belongs to it—occupied Kashmir—and neutralizing the terror infrastructure that has plagued the region for decades.
Pakistan’s Illusions and India’s Reality
For years, Islamabad has tried to play the double game: presenting itself as open to dialogue while simultaneously launching verbal and strategic attacks on India. Jaishankar’s speech at the UNGA highlighted that Bharat has had enough of this duplicity. No longer will India be constrained by diplomatic niceties; the Modi government is prepared to counter every attempt by Pakistan to malign its reputation and sovereignty.
Jaishankar’s pointed remarks, such as labeling Pakistan a “pauper state” due to its reliance on religious extremism, hit hard. His reference to “Karma” in describing Pakistan’s economic downfall carried a symbolic weight, illustrating how Pakistan’s internal chaos is a direct consequence of its decades-long hostility toward Bharat.
A New Era in India-Pakistan Relations
With an upcoming visit to Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in mid-October, Jaishankar’s speech was a warning. The SCO Heads of Government summit in Islamabad will serve as another platform where India will not hesitate to assert its position. The Modi government’s approach is now crystal clear: any future dialogue with Pakistan will only occur if there is a complete cessation of cross-border terrorism. This condition is non-negotiable, as Jaishankar emphasized once again in his UNGA address.
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