• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

In one of the strongest warnings yet from the Indian government, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has declared that India will not hesitate to strike deep into Pakistani territory if provoked by terrorist attacks. His remarks came during an interview with POLITICO while on an official visit to Brussels for high-level trade talks with the European Union. “If they are deep in Pakistan, we will go deep into Pakistan,” Jaishankar said, directly referencing the possibility of cross-border military action in response to terror threats. The statement comes nearly three weeks after a deadly conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Speaking on the recent flare-up following the April 22 attack that killed 26 civilians in Pahalgam, Jaishankar accused Pakistan of continuing to use terrorism as “an instrument of state policy.” “It is a country very steeped in its use of terrorism… That is the whole issue,” he said. When asked if the tensions that triggered the recent conflict still exist, Jaishankar responded, “If you call the commitment to terrorism a source of tension, absolutely, it is.”

India Claims Tactical Superiority in May Conflict

The brief but intense exchange of hostilities in May comprised missile attacks and air-to-air combat, ending in a ceasefire on May 10. Although Pakistan stated that it shot down several Indian aircraft, India initially reported no losses. A senior Indian military officer later admitted aircraft losses without specifying the number or types. US and French sources cited by Politico claimed Chinese technology may have helped Pakistani forces down one of the aircraft. Refusing to confirm specifics, Jaishankar said such issues would be addressed through appropriate channels. He added, “To me, the proof of the pudding is the destroyed and disabled airfields on the Pakistani side.”

ALSO READ: Taliban Using US Weapons? Bilawal Bhutto Blames America For Pakistan’s Terror Crisis | Here's What He Said

Jaishankar emphasised that Indian airstrikes on May 10 significantly degraded Pakistan’s military infrastructure. “The fighting stopped on the 10th for one reason and one reason only… we hit these eight Pakistani airfields and disabled them,” he said. “And don’t take my word for it—these are images available on Google. Look at the runways and hangars that took the hit,” he added. The remarks reflect India’s effort to showcase military preparedness and deterrence in the face of repeated cross-border attacks.

ALSO READ: From Kashmir To Colorado: Multiple Killings Mirror One Extreme Ideology | Expert Warns Of ‘Global Intifada’

Jaishankar even claimed that Pakistan is training and sending "thousands" of terrorists across the Line of Control. “We are not going to live with it,” he asserted. “If you continue to do the kind of barbaric acts which they did in April, then there is going to be retribution… and that retribution will be against the terrorist organisations and their leadership,” he added further. As India hardens its stance on cross-border terrorism, Jaishankar’s statement signals a clear shift in policy, terror provocations will be met with decisive action, regardless of boundaries.