Jaishankar Slams Pakistan on Terror Attacks: “Stop Pretending”

Jaishankar: When the Dutch daily De Volkskrant asked External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday about Islamabad’s claim of ignorance regarding terrorist groups operating within Pakistan, he responded bluntly: “Stop pretending Pakistan is not involved in terrorist attacks on India.”

Netherlands Visit:

While visiting the Netherlands to strengthen ties with Amsterdam. India’s second-largest trading partner in the EU, Jaishankar doubled down on his 2022 remark, calling Pakistan the “epicentre of terrorism.” He said, “I’m not suggesting it… I’m stating it.” He added, “Assume tens of thousands of people gather at military training facilities in the heart of Amsterdam. Would you believe your government doesn’t know?”

Jaishankar dismissed Islamabad’s denials. “Let’s not support the claim that Pakistan is unaware. Pakistan harbors the world’s most infamous terrorists on the UN list. These people operate freely in major cities. We know their names, addresses, actions, and connections.” He concluded emphatically: “Let’s not pretend Pakistan isn’t involved. The state is involved. The army is up to its neck in it.”

Pak Army Chief’s Extreme Religious:

In an earlier interview with Dutch network NOS, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said the “barbaric attack” in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22 triggered the current hostilities with Pakistan. He blamed the terrorists’ motivation on the “extreme religious outlook” of Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.

In a separate interview with De Volkskrant, Jaishankar emphasized that the terrorists behind the Pahalgam attack “intentionally gave the attack a religious tint.” He asserted, “The world should not accept such practices.”

Terrorism and Kashmir Border Issues:

Mr. Jaishankar described the Kashmir border dispute as “a completely unacceptable international crime that no one should condone,” and firmly rejected any attempt to link it with terrorism. He asserted that Jammu and Kashmir legally became part of India after the 1947 partition of India and Pakistan. “We believe the illegal occupiers must return the areas they have unlawfully seized to their rightful owner us,” he said.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has firmly stated that Pakistan must dismantle terrorist infrastructure operating on its soil and vacate illegally held areas in Jammu and Kashmir before India can consider any discussion of lasting peace with the country. He also warned Pakistan that India will not hesitate to strike terrorist camps across the border, citing a shift in Delhi’s counter-terrorism approach after the Pahalgam attack.

Trump Interference:

Mr. Jaishankar firmly denied that US President Donald Trump played any role in the May 12 ceasefire that ended the 100-hour India-Pakistan war. He dismissed Trump’s repeated claims that he “sure as hell helped” both countries de-escalate. The minister reiterated that India has consistently maintained the US had no involvement in brokering the ceasefire.

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Jaishankar Response:

Mr. Jaishankar emphasized that Kashmir is still a bilateral matter that can only be settled by the participating nations. “This is something we will do together with Pakistan,” he stated. The minister stated that India wants a “definitive end” to terrorism in regards to the ceasefire itself.

“Yes, the ceasefire has temporarily stopped military operations, but there will be repercussions if terrorist attacks from Pakistan persist,” is our warning. Pak needs to realize this.