External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasised India’s tough stance against terrorism by surgical strikes and airstrikes following the Uri and Pulwama occurrences, post-26/11 Mumbai attacks, while drawing attention to the differences in the country’s responses to different terror assaults. He stressed that although the world showed compassion for India following the events of September 11, 2011, there was also a warning not to escalate relations with Islamabad. This prudence, according to Jaishankar, is a result of India’s inability to undermine terrorists globally.
Addressing an event titled ‘India’s Vishwabandhu Approach to Global Relations’ in Mumbai, Jaishankar reflected on India’s differing responses to attacks across the Line of Control and the international boundary. He asserted, “So the message was, if you come and do something here, you may be across the LoC, you may be across the international boundary- we will still come and get you there.”
The horrific 26/11 assaults in 2008, which were carried out by the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed over 166 lives and injured 300 others, including foreigners, according to Jaishankar. Following the incidents in 2016 and 2019, India carried out airstrikes in Balakot after the Pulwama attack and surgical operations in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to other attacks.
Jaishankar bemoaned the fact that India has not been able to bring attention to the fact that terrorism is a global concern due to the country’s lack of success in campaigning against it. The speaker emphasised the distinction between the responses received by the world after the 26/11 strikes and the events in Uri and Balakot, blaming this on India’s diplomatic endeavours to express its position.
Earlier in the day, Jaishankar engaged with investors, students, and social media influencers, emphasizing the necessity of a strong and experienced government for India’s progress.
In a social media post on X, he remarked, “A very productive day in Mumbai, interacting with investors, social media influencers, students and intellectuals. Stressed that in a turbulent and uncertain world, India needs a strong and experienced Government with the judgement and confidence to take the right calls. The last 10 years have laid the foundation for Viksit Bharat. Our choices now will ensure that we will progress towards that goal by 2047.”