Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar slams Pakistan over terrorism; reminds of Osama bin Laden
S Jaishankar, the minister of external affairs, criticised the West on Wednesday for comparing India and Pakistan, claiming that the current conflict between the two countries was about fighting terrorism.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) June 12: Foreign Minister S Jaishankar asked the West to see New Delhi's response against Pakistan in the wake of the terror in Kashmir as an India versus terrorism issue rather than just a border dispute between two neighbours. He is now in Brussels to meet with the leaders of the European Union (EU).
Jaishankar has also condemned the foreign media for portraying India's efforts under Operation Sindoor as a tit-for-tat between two nuclear-armed neighbours.
He said, "Let me remind you of something - there was a man named Osama bin Laden. Why did he, of all people, feel safe living for years in a Pakistani military town, right next to their equivalent of West Point?... I want the world to understand - this isn't merely an India-Pakistan issue. It's about terrorism. And that very same terrorism will eventually come back to haunt you."
He emphasised that India has close ties to both Russia and Ukraine, but he also pointed out that the West supported Islamabad when Pakistan invaded India after it gained its independence.
He said, “Every country, naturally, considers its own experience, history and interests. India has the longest-standing grievance - our borders were violated just months after independence, when Pakistan sent in invaders to Kashmir. And the countries that were most supportive of that? Western countries."
Pakistan responded to S Jaishankar's recent criticism of the nation by saying that diplomats should work to advance peace and unity rather than "producing bellicose punchlines."
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said, “Pakistan categorically rejects the irresponsible remarks made by the External Affairs Minister of India during different media engagements in Brussels” in a statement.
The tensions between India and Pakistan increased after 26 people were killed in the Pahalgam terrorist attack on April 22. On May 7, India launched targeted attacks against terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
After discussions between the directors general of military operations of both sides on May 10, the four-day-long on-ground fighting between India and Pakistan came to an end with an agreement to stop military operations.
Aadrika Tayal
