Terrorists operate outside of rules, requiring an unrestricted response: S Jaishankar

In a recent event titled ‘Why Bharat Matters: Opportunity for youth and participation in the global scenario,’ Mr. Jaishankar criticized the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government’s response to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008. He asserted that the government’s deliberation did not yield fruitful results, and it was felt that the cost of attacking Pakistan was deemed higher than not attacking it at that time.

During the event, Mr. Jaishankar engaged with the youth audience, raising the question of how to prevent future attacks if there is no reaction to a similar incident. He also addressed complexities in maintaining relationships with certain countries, particularly mentioning the challenges with maintaining a relationship with Pakistan, and emphasized the need for introspection on this matter.

Highlighting historical events, Mr. Jaishankar referred to the origins of terrorism in the region, tracing it back to 1947 and subsequent conflicts. He underscored the significance of taking a clear stance against terrorism, stressing that it should not be tolerated under any circumstances.

Referring to the 26/11 Mumbai attack, Mr. Jaishankar emphasized the importance of reacting swiftly and decisively to such incidents to prevent future occurrences. He highlighted the need to recognize that terrorists do not abide by any rules, and the response to terrorism should also be unrestricted.

In his discussions, Mr. Jaishankar emphasized the significance of clear and resolute action against terrorism, suggesting that there should be no hesitation in responding to attacks and that this approach is essential to prevent future incidents.