India Firmly Counters Cross-Border Terrorism, Says External Affairs Minister Jaishankar

December 23, 2023: In a stern address to the media on Saturday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar asserted that India would not adopt a passive stance when confronted with cross-border terrorism, emphasizing the nation’s resolve to counteract such threats.

Addressing reporters, Jaishankar highlighted the historical context of terrorism in India, stating, “Terrorism started at the moment of our independence when so-called raiders came from across Pakistan. From Day 1, we have faced terrorism, and it is something about which we must have absolute clarity.”

Identifying the Mumbai terror attacks on 26/11 as a pivotal moment, Jaishankar expressed that the nation underwent a shift in perception witnessing the graphic and impactful nature of that incident. “Now, what we need to do first is we need to counter. I know there are people who said, oh, we had a very smart strategy of turning the other cheek. I don’t think that’s just the mood of the nation. I don’t think it makes sense. I don’t think it makes strategic sense,” he asserted.

The External Affairs Minister stressed the importance of responding to cross-border terrorism, stating, “If somebody is practicing cross-border terrorism, you must respond, you must extract, impose a cost out there.”

Jaishankar went on to emphasize that terrorism should be beyond what is permissible in legitimate competition. “At the end of the day, there are rules of the game, and if somebody clearly violates the rules of the game, it cannot be okay,” he added.

These remarks by the External Affairs Minister come in the wake of a recent terrorist ambush on Army vehicles in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, which resulted in the tragic loss of four soldiers on Thursday. The incident involved three to four heavily-armed terrorists targeting a Maruti Gypsy and an Army truck. Disturbingly, after the attack, the terrorists reportedly mutilated the bodies of at least two soldiers and seized their weapons.

Security expert Captain (retired) Anil Gaur, quoted by news agency PTI, suggested that Pakistan is attempting to revive terrorism in the region through orchestrated incidents, shedding light on the persistent challenges faced by India in countering cross-border terrorism.