Chennai, 02 January (H.S.) : External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar issued a strong warning to Pakistan on Friday, asserting that India cannot be expected to maintain good neighborly relations with a country that persistently sponsors terrorism.

Speaking at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras after launching the IITM Global Research Foundation, the minister emphasized that India has a fundamental right to defend its citizens.

He stated that if a neighbor choose to deliberately and unrepentantly continue with hostile activities, New Delhi will exercise its right to protect its interests, and how it chooses to do so is a sovereign decision that requires no external approval.

The minister specifically linked the issue of cross-border terrorism to the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. He explained that water-sharing agreements are gestures of goodwill and are predicated on the existence of a peaceful and cooperative relationship.

According to the authorities, if terrorism continues for decades, the very foundation of good neighborliness is destroyed, and the offending party cannot expect to enjoy the benefits of such cooperation. Jaishankar remarked that it is irreconcilable for a country to request water sharing while simultaneously spreading violence across the border.

Contrasting this with India’s broader regional policy, the minister highlighted the positive impact of India’s growth on other cooperative neighbors. He pointed out that India has consistently provided humanitarian and financial assistance to friendly nations, such as the four billion dollar relief package to Sri Lanka during its financial crisis and vaccine support during the pandemic.

He noted that most neighbors recognize that a rising India serves as a lifting tide for the entire region. The minister concluded by reiterating that while India is committed to regional prosperity, it will remain firm in its response to security threats.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary