Jaishankar Rejects Mediation, Warns Pakistan Terror Support

India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar delivered a blunt and uncompromising message on New Delhi’s neighbourhood policy on Friday, asserting that India cannot be expected to extend goodwill to countries that continue to support terrorism. Speaking at IIT Madras, Jaishankar remarked that while geography cannot be changed, national security cannot be compromised — a statement widely seen as a veiled but unmistakable reference to Pakistan.

“You can also have bad neighbours. Unfortunately, we do,” Jaishankar said, drawing applause from students as he addressed India’s strained ties with its western neighbour. His comments came in the backdrop of heightened tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians. Indian security agencies have maintained that the attack was designed and backed by Pakistan-based terror networks.

Jaishankar: India’s Right to Self-Defence Is Non-Negotiable

Elaborating on India’s position, Jaishankar stressed that when a country “deliberately, persistently, and unrepentantly” pursues terrorism as state policy, the victim nation has an unquestionable right to protect its citizens.
“If a country decides that terrorism is its chosen path, we have a right to defend our people. We will exercise that right,” he said, underlining that India’s response would be determined solely by its national interests.

The remarks reinforced India’s long-held stance that dialogue and diplomacy cannot coexist with terror. According to Jaishankar, peace efforts lose meaning when violence is repeatedly used as an instrument of statecraft.

Strategic Autonomy and a Subtle Message to Washington

In an apparent dismissal of repeated claims by US President Donald Trump about mediating peace between India and Pakistan during the military standoff in May, Jaishankar emphasised India’s strategic autonomy.
“How we exercise that right is up to us. Nobody can tell us what we should or should not do,” he said firmly, signalling that India’s security decisions will not be influenced by external pressure or third-party intervention.

The statement underscored New Delhi’s consistent position that all issues with Pakistan are bilateral and must be addressed without outside mediation.

Jaishankar: Indus Waters Treaty: Goodwill Has Limits

Referring to the now-suspended Indus Waters Treaty, Jaishankar made it clear that agreements rooted in goodwill cannot survive prolonged hostility.
“Many years ago, we agreed to a water-sharing arrangement as a gesture of good neighbourliness,” he said. “But if you have decades of terrorism, there is no good neighbourliness, and you don’t get the benefits of it.”

Rejecting what he called an irreconcilable contradiction, Jaishankar added, “You can’t say, ‘Please share water with me, but I will continue terrorism with you.’ That simply doesn’t work.”

Neighbourhood First, When Neighbours Choose Peace

While delivering a strong warning to Pakistan, the external affairs minister also highlighted India’s constructive role in the region. Speaking about his recent visit to Bangladesh, Jaishankar said India believes that the growth of its neighbours is directly linked to its own progress.

“If India grows, all of our neighbours can grow with us,” he said, recalling India’s supply of Covid-19 vaccines, a four-billion-dollar assistance package to Sri Lanka during its financial crisis, and rapid humanitarian aid during Cyclone Ditwah.

Firm Stand on Arunachal Pradesh

Answering a question from a student from Arunachal Pradesh regarding the harassment of an Indian passport holder by Chinese authorities at an airport, Jaishankar responded unequivocally.
“Arunachal Pradesh is and will remain a part of India,” he said, calling the incident a violation of international norms and agreements.