External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said India would not hesitate to launch military strikes deep inside Pakistan should cross-border terrorist attacks persist.
In an interview to POLITICO during his visit to Brussels, Jaishankar stated bluntly: “If you continue to do the kind of barbaric acts which they did in April, then there is going to be retribution… and we don’t care where they are. If they are deep in Pakistan, we will go deep into Pakistan.”
The remarks come three weeks after a military clash between India and Pakistan which followed the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.
“We are not going to live with it,” Jaishankar told POLITICO, accusing Pakistan of openly training “thousands” of terrorists. He added: “It (Pakistan) is a country very steeped in its use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy. That is the whole issue.”
‘This Is About Terrorism, Not Pakistan’
In a separate interview to French publication Le Figaro, Jaishankar was even more categorical: “This is not a dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir — we simply have zero tolerance for terrorism. If terrorists attack India, we will hunt them down wherever they are, including in Pakistan.”
Responding to questions about the broader geopolitical risk in South Asia, he stressed that India’s conflict is “with terrorism, not with a specific country.” He added that international support had validated India’s retaliatory strikes. “The UN Security Council called for accountability and justice. That is exactly what we pursued.”
India’s Strategic Position On Ukraine
Jaishankar also made clear that while India remains firm on regional security, it does not intend to take sides in the Ukraine war.
“We’ve helped both Ukraine and Russia as much as we could,” he told Le Figaro, highlighting that India believes “there must be direct negotiation between the parties, the sooner the better.”
He added: “We don’t prescribe the outcome — that’s for the parties involved to decide.” India has sent humanitarian aid to both Kyiv and Moscow. Prime Minister Modi has visited both capitals since the war began.
“We speak on behalf of the Global South,” Jaishankar said, adding that countries across Africa, Latin America and the Pacific “feel their economies and stability have been negatively affected by this conflict.”
Voice For The Global South
Jaishankar outlined India’s diplomatic position as a reflection of its growing leadership role in the developing world. “It refers to developing countries that have endured the painful legacy of colonization and are now trying to rebuild… There is a sense of solidarity between us that makes us stronger,” he told Le Figaro.
Despite its relatively low per capita GDP, India supports development efforts in 78 other Global South nations. Jaishankar positioned this as both a moral responsibility and a strategic imperative.
Relations With The U.S. And Trump
Asked about trade tensions with Washington and the return of Donald Trump to the White House, Jaishankar remained pragmatic. “For over a quarter century, under five U.S. presidents, our ties with the U.S. have continuously strengthened,” he told Le Figaro.
He acknowledged the tariff threats raised by the Trump administration earlier this year but noted that negotiations were already underway. “We are hopeful of reaching an agreement before the tariff suspension ends on July 9.”
Regarding Trump’s foreign policy, Jaishankar told Le Figaro: “From our perspective, we noticed early on his interest in the Quad and his firm commitment to advancing it. Regarding the rest of the world, we see the US acting in line with its immediate self-interest. To be honest, I would do the same with them.”
On whether India hopes for reconciliation between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said: “It’s not just about two men. We’ve always believed that an urgent solution to the war in Ukraine must be found — and that it won’t come from the battlefield.”
No Apologies For National Strength
Despite mounting scrutiny over India’s internal challenges, particularly concerning its 200-million-strong Muslim minority, Jaishankar rejected foreign criticism. “That is largely exaggerated, and sometimes outright false,” he told Le Figaro. “In Europe, nations are typically based on one language, often one religion. But we have always lived amid diversity.”
India’s growing global confidence also extends to reforming international institutions. Jaishankar reiterated India’s long-standing call for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council: “We are the most populous country on the planet… Many of our actions positively impact other nations. The UN is 80 years old and struggling. So would the world be better off (with India on the Security Council)? The answer is yes.”
