Pakistan's State-Sponsored Terrorism Reaches 'Industry Level', India Vows Not to Ignore: Jaishankar

Defense News ,India :-  India's Foreign Minister, S Jaishankar, recently highlighted Pakistan's significant role in sponsoring terrorism, describing it as almost an "industry level" endeavor. Speaking during his visit to Singapore, Jaishankar emphasized India's firm stance against terrorism and its commitment to address the issue head-on.

Jaishankar, currently on a trip to Singapore, addressed the topic during a question and answer session following his lecture on his book 'Why Bharat Matters' at the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS) of the National University of Singapore (NUS).

He pointed out that every country desires a stable neighborhood, emphasizing the importance of peace and tranquility. However, Jaishankar noted that unfortunately, this is not the case with India due to Pakistan's consistent support for terrorism against India.

Highlighting Pakistan's direct involvement in sponsoring terrorism, Jaishankar questioned how to deal with a neighbor openly using terrorism as a tool of statecraft. He emphasized that terrorism sponsored by Pakistan is not sporadic but rather a sustained effort, almost operating at an industrial level.

Acknowledging the complexity of the issue, Jaishankar admitted that there's no quick fix. Nevertheless, he emphasized India's unwavering commitment to confront the problem. India refuses to ignore or downplay the issue anymore, recognizing that evading it only exacerbates the situation.

Jaishankar emphasized that India's current sentiment is not to overlook terrorists. The strained relations between India and Pakistan escalated following terrorist attacks such as the 2016 Pathankot Air Force base attack and the Pulwama terror attack in 2019.

The relationship further deteriorated after India's retaliatory airstrike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist training camp in Pakistan. Additionally, India's decision to revoke the special powers of Jammu and Kashmir and its bifurcation into two union territories in 2019 worsened the situation.

India has consistently conveyed to Pakistan its desire for normal neighborly relations in an environment free from terror, hostility, and violence.

India stands firm against terrorism and remains committed to addressing the issue of terrorism sponsored by Pakistan. Jaishankar's remarks underscore India's resolve to confront the problem head-on and not shy away from acknowledging and dealing with the challenges it poses.