EAM S Jaishankar Says India-Pakistan Tensions Reflect Global Terror Threat, Not Just Regional Dispute

EAM S Jaishankar, during his ongoing visit to Europe, urged the global community to view the India-Pakistan conflict not merely as a bilateral issue but as part of a larger challenge posed by terrorism.

In an interview with Brussels-based media outlet ‘Euractiv’, the External Affairs Minister pointed to the presence of Osama bin Laden in a Pakistani military town as a glaring example.

“Let me remind you of something — there was a man named Osama bin Laden. Why did he, of all people, feel safe living for years in a Pakistani military town, right next to their equivalent of West Point (Pakistan military institution)? I want the world to understand that this isn’t merely an India-Pakistan issue. It’s about terrorism. And that very same terrorism will eventually come back to haunt you,” EAM Jaishankar stated.

Jaishankar cautioned that terrorism currently aimed at India could one day impact countries worldwide if not addressed collectively.

When questioned about India’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and its decision not to join Western sanctions, Jaishankar responded that India believes in peaceful resolution over warfare.

“We don’t believe that differences can resolved through war — we don’t believe a solution will come from the battlefield. It’s not for us to prescribe what that solution should be. My point is, we’re not being prescriptive or judgmental — but we are also not uninvolved,” he asserted.

EAM S Jaishankar emphasised India’s balanced diplomatic ties.

“We have a strong relationship with Ukraine as well — it’s not only about Russia. But every country, naturally, considers its own experience, history and interests. India has the longest-standing grievance — our borders were violated just months after independence, when Pakistan sent in invaders to Kashmir. And, the countries that were most supportive of that? Western countries,” he noted.

The External Affairs Minister further remarked, “If those same countries — who were evasive or reticent then — now say ‘let’s have a great conversation about international principles’, I think I’m justified in asking them to reflect on their own past.”

EAM Jaishankar underlined India’s evolving global outlook, stating that Europe has now stepped into a multipolar world – one where it must act more independently, relying on its own strengths and global partnerships to serve its interests.

“I hear terms like ‘strategic autonomy’ used in Europe — these were once part of our vocabulary. The EU is clearly a major pole in the global order — and increasingly an autonomous one. That is precisely why I’m here: to deepen our relationship in this multipolar world,” he remarked.

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