Pandavas could not choose their relatives, we can’t choose our neighbours, says foreign minister S Jaishankar on Pakistan

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar talked about Pakistan as a neighbour when asked if the nation is an asset or a liability for India on Saturday. Replying to that question, he said, “In life, you have what you have. Pandavas could not choose their relatives, we can’t choose our neighbours. Naturally, we hope good sense prevails, that our past practices are not repeated, and that in diplomacy, it is important to be hopeful.”

S Jaishankar’s book launch in Pune

The EAM, S Jaishankar was in Pune to launch ‘Bharat Marg’, the Marathi translation of his book ‘The India Way’. Moreover, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis has released his book’s Marathi version.

“Cannot comment on what’s happening”: EAM

During the event, when asked about the economic slump in Pakistan, Jaishankar said that he cannot comment on what is happening in Pakistan.

According to a media report, the World Bank has slashed Pakistan’s economic growth by half from 4 per cent to 2 per cent for the current fiscal year, saying Islamabad faces mounting economic difficulties.

“Nonetheless, Pakistan faces mounting economic difficulties and Sri Lanka remains in crisis. In all regions, improvements in living standards over the half-decade to 2024 are expected to be slower than from 2010-19,” the World Bank in Global Economic Prospects report said.

Pakistan’s economic condition is precarious with low foreign exchange reserves and large fiscal and current account deficits that have been further worsened by severe flooding.

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Foreign minister talks about his book

Taking notes from his book, the EAM said, “There are eight chapters in total. I wanted people to be associated with the foreign policy of the country. I’d like to include people from other states, not just Delhi. This book was written in simple language and is simple to read.”

Moreover, he said that the first chapter is about two nawabs losing Awadh to the British East India Company while playing chess, the second chapter is about globalisation and the challenges it throws up, and the third chapter is about the “dogmas of Delhi that is traditionally defined and constrained.”

Speaking to the media, the minister said, “The fourth relates to international policy. Some claim that we sit in ivory towers and analyse the world. We should not, in my opinion, delegate foreign policy to the mandarins. We must also listen to the people. When developing our foreign policy, we should keep people’s feelings in mind.”

China & other issues included in the book

Also, the foreign minister, Jaishankar has discussed China and the issues that the country has with its ambitious northern neighbour, as well as India’s relations with Japan and its position in the Indo-Pacific.

While concerning China, the minister stated that it is India’s sole neighbour which is a global power and may become a superpower in the future.

Further, he stated as per the reports, “It is evident that there would be difficulties when we have such a neighbour. One chapter of my book is about how to manage China. I’ve also discussed how Japan will benefit us. The nation experienced limitations after partition, but our influence today extends all the way to the Pacific Ocean.”

He also discussed the COVID-19 epidemic, the Afghanistan crisis, the Russia-Ukraine war, and how national tensions affect the world. Speaking on India’s change over the last eight to nine years, the Union minister stated that programmes such as production-linked incentives (PLI) were bringing global firms to the country.

Jaishankar has addressed terrorism. He said that no nation had suffered as much as India as a result of the “neighbour we have,” an apparent reference to Pakistan.

He has referred to the surgical strikes carried out in the aftermath of the attacks in Pulwama and Uri as “decisive action.”  He has emphasised India’s tough stance against terrorism, the report added.