India will under no circumstances support terrorism or those who abet terrorists. The rising number of militant attacks along the border is a matter of serious concern for India. Consequently, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar effectively delivered a stern message to the United States, stating that if a partner nation fails to attach due importance to this issue, bilateral relations could be affected.
The recent deepening of ties between New Delhi and Beijing following the BRICS summit has become a cause for concern for the United States. Against this backdrop, diplomatic circles attach significant importance to the remarks made by India’s External Affairs Minister regarding cross-border terrorism and bilateral relations between India and the US. Jaishankar had participated in a discussion organized by the Asia Society in New York.There, questions were raised regarding the current equation of India-US relations—touching upon issues ranging from tariff policy differences with the US to the closeness between Islamabad and Washington. The External Affairs Minister candidly stated that the India-US relationship needs to be viewed within the broader international context.The United States is navigating a difficult phase in its relations with several countries around the world, and India is no exception. Raising the issue of cross-border terrorism, Jaishankar stated that it is a matter of serious concern for India; if India’s partners do not attach due importance to this issue, it could impact bilateral relations.
‘Terrorists will have to face the consequences’, India slams Pakistan at the UN
Just as Pakistan is deepening its engagement with the Trump administration, remarks made by India’s External Affairs Minister have sparked discussion in international circles. Will an India-US trade deal strengthen New Delhi’s ties with the White House? While Jaishankar’s comments suggest that finalizing the trade deal could indeed play a pivotal role in improving bilateral relations, the matter is not quite so straightforward.There are questions regarding the US ‘Section 301’ process, and several aspects of the new US tariff policy require renegotiation. Consequently, it is impossible to say with certainty at this stage when a trade agreement between the two nations might be finalized. However, the External Affairs Minister’s remarks make it quite clear that India does not view the growing US-Pakistan closeness favorably.
