India has a strong "zero-tolerance" approach to terrorism and hopes its global partners would completely understand and appreciate this policy, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar stated on Saturday. The remark came against the backdrop of increased apprehensions about nations bracketing India and Pakistan together following recent border clashes. Addressing after extensive discussions with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy in New Delhi, Jaishankar reaffirmed India's unshakable commitment to fighting terrorism. “We practice a policy of zero tolerance against terrorism and expect our partners to understand it. We will never countenance perpetrators of evil being put at par with their victims,” he said.

The EAM also thanked the United Kingdom for its clear condemnation of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and India's open solidarity with India's war against terror. The UK government has been proactively involved in efforts for de-escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan, in the wake of the recent military hostilities.

India-UK Strategic Partnership Strengthened

In his two-day India visit, Lammy placed emphasis on examining the strategic partnership between the two nations. Jaishankar mentioned the recent agreement of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as well as the double taxation avoidance convention as key milestones that are likely to increase bilateral trade and intensify cooperation. “This Free Trade Agreement is truly a milestone and will propel two-way trade between the countries, positively impacting other strategic aspects of our ties,” the EAM stated.

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Operation Sindoor and Diplomatic Outreach

India's strong anti-terrorism policy was proven by Operation Sindoor, which was initiated by the Indian Armed Forces on May 7 as a counter to the Pahalgam terror attack. As part of this operation, several terror camps in Pakistan's Punjab and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) were attacked and destroyed in a well-coordinated strike that lasted around 25 minutes. Following the operations, BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad's delegation met with UK government ministers, think tanks, and India friendship groups from May 31 to June 3. The delegation highlighted India's cohesive front and unshakeable determination against terrorism in Pakistan.

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Cross-Border Clashes And Ceasefire Agreement

India and Pakistan had engaged in four days of cross-border hostilities before agreeing to a ceasefire on May 10. UK played a leading role in diplomatic interventions to de-escalate tensions, including Lammy having visited Islamabad on May 16 to validate the ceasefire agreement. During talks, the Indian side raised concerns about ongoing cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan, urging partners to recognize the threat and support India’s security measures.