India Says Its Foreign Policy Must Reflect ‘Reality of Pakistan’s Behavior’
New Delhi: India’s foreign policy must be shaped based on the ‘reality of Pakistan’s behavior,’ said India’s Foreign Minister. He described the relationship between New Delhi and Islamabad as an exceptional challenge in the global diplomatic system, citing Pakistan’s long-standing support for terrorism.
On Tuesday, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar stated that Pakistan’s conduct towards India is unprecedented in the contemporary world and challenged critics to provide examples of any other country pursuing such systematic policies against its neighbor. According to him, the use of terrorism in Pakistan’s policies has not been covert or occasional but has openly continued over decades.
He added that, according to New Delhi, training centers for armed groups have operated openly in major Pakistani cities and have enjoyed the support of governmental and military institutions. Jaishankar emphasized that Pakistan has tried to legitimize these actions internationally, but such narratives are no longer accepted globally.
The Indian foreign minister described this situation as an ‘unpleasant but unavoidable reality’ and said India cannot ignore the consequences of such policies. He noted that India’s foreign and security policies must be based on an assessment of how this neighbor’s behavior will be in the future.
In another part of his remarks, Jaishankar differentiated between countries that adopt a cooperative approach with India and those that undermine its security. He said India treats countries with positive approaches similarly but will pursue a different policy when faced with behaviors like those demonstrated by Pakistan.
Referring to India’s assistance during crises such as the cyclone in Sri Lanka and earthquakes in Myanmar and Afghanistan, he said a belief is strengthening in the region that India is a country reliable in times of crisis.
