In an interview with European news outlet Euractiv, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar issued a stern reminder to the West regarding its past support for Pakistan and its blind eye toward terrorism. His comments came amid ongoing free trade agreement negotiations between India and the European Union, reflecting New Delhi's effort to broaden global partnerships in an increasingly multipolar world.

Referring to Osama bin Laden’s presence in Abbottabad, a town housing Pakistan’s military elite, Jaishankar questioned, “Why did he, of all people, feel safe living for years in a Pakistani military town, right next to their equivalent of West Point?” He underscored that global terrorism is not merely an "India-Pakistan issue" but a wider menace, cautioning, “The very same terrorism will eventually come back to haunt you.”

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Western Hypocrisy And Historic Injustice

Jaishankar recalled the October 1947 incident, when Pakistan sent armed invaders into Kashmir, and lamented the Western countries’ support at the time. He accused the international community of being reticent then and now, preaching international principles. “Those same countries, who were evasive or reticent then, now say ‘let’s have a great conversation about international principles’,” he said, adding that such selective morality needs self-reflection.

Commenting on India’s recent counterterrorism actions under Operation Sindoor, Jaishankar criticised international media for portraying them as part of a tit-for-tat between two nuclear states. “We don't believe that differences can be resolved through war. It's not for us to prescribe solutions, but we are not uninvolved either,” he clarified, reiterating India’s consistent stand on peaceful resolution.

India’s Stance On Ukraine-Russia And Multipolarity

Responding to criticism over India not joining sanctions against Russia, Jaishankar emphasised that India maintains balanced ties with both Russia and Ukraine. He insisted that India believes in diplomacy over warfare. Reflecting on Europe’s changing global role, he said, “Multipolarity is already here. Europe now faces the need to make decisions in its own interest, based on relationships it fosters globally.”

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Jaishankar noted the increasing use of terms like “strategic autonomy” in Europe, a concept that was once part of India's diplomatic vocabulary. “The EU is clearly a major pole in the global order, and increasingly an autonomous one. That is precisely why I’m here: to deepen our relationship in this multipolar world,” he concluded.