India is intolerant to terrorism and will never succumb to nuclear blackmail, external affairs minister S Jaishankar stated on Friday after informing Germany’s highest leadership about the new strategy to counter cross-border terror sponsored by Pakistan.
Jaishankar Shares Bilateral Stance on Pakistan
Jaishankar indicated that there would be no space for third-party intervention in India’s interactions with Pakistan while speaking at a news conference with his counterpart from Germany, Johann Wadephul in Berlin. He also expressed India’s gratitude to Germany for its support at the moment when the nation was reacting to the Pahalgam attack.
“India has zero tolerance for terrorism. India will never give in to nuclear blackmail. And India will deal with Pakistan purely bilaterally,” Jaishankar said. “There should be no confusion in any quarter in that regard.”
Wadephul said Germany was “appalled by the brutal terrorist attack” at Pahalgam last month and had “condemned this attack on civilians in the strongest terms”. He added: “Germany will support any fight against terrorism. Terrorism must never have a place anywhere in the world and this is why we will support everyone who has to fight terrorism.”
Jaishankar asserted he had talked to Wadephul on May 7, the day the Operation Sindoor was launched aimed at attacking terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan, and asserted India appreciated the country’s support for the perception that “every nation has a right to defend itself against terrorism”.
Jaishankar On Strengthening Indo-German Security Ties
Defense and security formed a major component of the two foreign ministers’ negotiations, with Jaishankar stressing Germany’s role as a significant partner. Wadephul stated that the two nations have the shared aspiration to uphold the rules-based world order.
“India has a very special importance as a strong actor in security policy in a strategically important region,” Wadephul said.
Referring to the clashes between India and Pakistan that ended on May 10 with an understanding on stopping military actions, Wadephul said: “The fact that a truce is now in place is something we appreciate very much. What is important now is that this truce remains stable, that dialogue can happen in order to find bilateral solutions for that conflict, taking into account the vital interests on both sides.”
Jaishankar spoke to India’s fight against terrorism with senior German leaders while an all-party delegation chaired by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi presented Russian political leaders and parliamentarians in Moscow with the justification behind Operation Sindoor.
PM Modi’s Message to Germany
At his meeting with Merz in Berlin, Jaishankar conveyed the wishes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed appreciation for “Germany’s solidarity as India counters the challenge of terrorism”. The two sides will work to expand the bilateral strategic partnership, he said in a social media post.
India’s fight against terrorism also featured in Jaishankar’s interaction with Günter Sautter, the foreign and security policy advisor to the German chancellor. “Shared views on key international issues, including fighting terrorism. Our enhanced partnership is a significant determinant of stability in a world of uncertainty. We will also cooperate to build resilience and confidence,” he stated.
Jaishankar Reaffirming Anti-Terror Commitment in Germany
Jaishankar, who is on a three-country tour of Europe already having visited the Netherlands and Denmark, met German Bundestag or Parliament members on Thursday and talked about “India’s firm commitment of combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations”.
In Moscow, the bipartisan delegation headed by Kanimozhi updated members of the Federation Council or upper house and the Duma or the lower house about India’s new strategy in countering cross-border terrorism from Pakistan. The delegation also met with Russia’s deputy foreign minister Andrey Rudenko.
Russia Condemns Pahalgam Attack
“The Russian side condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and stated that Russia stands in solidarity with India for elimination of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations! Russia and India have a shared position in the fight against terrorism,” the Indian embassy in Moscow said on social media after the delegation met Andrey Denisov, the deputy chair of the committee on international affairs in the upper house, and other senators.
The team also met Leonid Slutsky, chair of the Duma committee on international affairs, and other members of the lower house. The delegation, which includes Samajwadi Party MP Rajeev Rai, BJP MP Brijesh Chowta, RJD MP Prem Chand Gupta, AAP MP Ashok Kumar Mittal, and former ambassador Manjeev Puri, will also travel to Slovenia, Greece, Latvia and Spain.
Japanese Leaders Express Support
The all-party delegation led by Janata Dal-United MP Sanjay Kumar Jha that is visiting Japan interacted with the Japan-India Parliamentary Friendship League led by Yasutoshi Nishimura in Tokyo on Friday. “India’s resolute stance of zero tolerance towards terrorism was conveyed. Members of the league expressed support for India’s resolve to counter cross border terrorism,” the Indian embassy said after the meeting.
At a separate meeting with the delegation, Japan’s Speaker Fukushiro Nukaga expressed his support for India’s national resolve to combat terrorism. The delegation also met Japan’s former defence minister Minoru Kihara and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leaders Shinako Tsuchiya and Yasuhiro Hanashi and discussed the zero tolerance approach to terrorism.
UAE Visit Highlights Counter-Terror Cooperation
Another all-party delegation led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, which is visiting the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE), met Nikolay Mladenov, head of the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi, and exchanged views on boosting cooperation in counter-terrorism and combating radicalism.
India is sending seven all-party delegations to 33 countries around the world to highlight Pakistan’s role in supporting cross-border terrorism and to urge the world community to pressure Islamabad to crack down on terror groups.
