Jaishankar Slams Pakistan’s ‘Double Game’ With Taliban, Says Terror Backfired

Pakistan found itself ensnared in its own web of duplicity after attempting to play both sides with the Taliban, only to be betrayed, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Tuesday.

Speaking on Pakistan’s involvement in Afghanistan, he remarked that the country lost its way by nurturing terrorism, and is now paying the price for the very forces it helped create.

“Pakistan was playing a double game. It was with both the Taliban and also with the other side. But, when the Americans left, the double game could not be sustained,” Jaishankar said while speaking at the Charotar University of Science and Technology in Gujarat.

“Whatever benefits they were getting out of the double game, that also went down (after the US left Afghanistan). Moreover, the very terrorism industry they (Pakistan) had promoted came back to bite them,” India’s External Affairs Minister added.

Mumbai Attacks, A ‘Turning Point’

Jaishankar identified the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks as the “turning point” that caused India-Pakistan relations to deteriorate sharply, marking a downward spiral from which ties have never recovered.

“Indians collectively felt that such behaviour from a neighbouring country could no longer be tolerated,” he said, adding, “That feeling was very very strong in Indian society, but it may not have been entirely understood at that time by the Government at that time, which is a different matter.”

Emphasising the difference in the trajectories of the two countries over the past decade, Jaishankar said India has transformed, while Pakistan hasn’t let go of their “bad habits”.

“After 2014, when the government changed in India, Pakistan was given a firm message that there will be consequences if acts of terrorism are committed,” Jaishankar said.

“During this period, we (India) have grown economically and politically, and our standing in the world has improved. But, Pakistan continued the old playbook,” the lawmaker added.

Unworthy Of India’s ‘Precious Time’

Jaishankar noted that India has moved far ahead, adding that there’s no reason for Indians to “waste their precious time” thinking about Pakistan.

The Foreign Minister’s remarks come just days after the United States extradited 26/11 Mumbai terror attack plotter Tahawwur Rana to India. The two nations share a special and privileged strategic partnership, marked by close cooperation in intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism efforts.

Following Rana’s extradition, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had said, “We extradited Tahawwur Hussain Rana to India to face charges for his role in planning the horrific 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. Together, with India, we’ve long sought justice for the 166 people, including 6 Americans, who lost their lives in these attacks. I’m glad that day has come.”

Replying to it, Jaishankar had said, “Appreciate the counter-terrorism cooperation between our two countries. This is indeed a big step in ensuring justice for the victims of 26/11 attacks.”