"Jaishankar declines discussions with Islamabad beyond 'eradicating terrorism,' suggesting Pakistan is deeply entrenched in this issue"
In a series of recent statements, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has provided insights into the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, as well as the country's response through Operation Sindoor.
On April 22, a devastating terror attack in Pahalgam claimed the lives of 26 people, prompting India to take decisive action. On May 7, Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian Armed Forces, targeting nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir.
During a telephonic conversation with US Vice President JD Vance on the night of May 9, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present, as revealed by Foreign Minister Jaishankar. The conversation reportedly took place amidst threats from the Pakistani government to launch a massive assault on India if certain conditions were not met.
The Indian Foreign Minister asserted that the Pakistani government had, in fact, launched a massive attack on India the same night as the conversation. He also stated that the Prime Minister remained impervious to these threats, indicating that there would be a response from India.
In response to these developments, Jaishankar declared that India would move to a policy of no impunity regarding terrorism and would no longer accept that terrorists were proxies separate from the sponsor countries. He also reiterated India's long-held position that dealings with Pakistan are bilateral.
The Foreign Minister further clarified that talks with Pakistan would only be about ending terrorism. He rejected any discussions on other matters, stating that India would not engage in negotiations unless Pakistan takes concrete steps to eradicate terrorism.
In a surprising turn of events, the next morning, Senator Marco Rubio reportedly called Jaishankar and mentioned that the Pakistanis were ready to talk. However, the Foreign Minister maintained a firm stance, emphasising that India would not negotiate until Pakistan took definitive action against terrorism.
It is essential to note that, contrary to claims made by US President Donald Trump, there was no US involvement in the ceasefire between India and Pakistan after the escalation in May 2021. Prime Minister Modi explicitly stated there was no US role in the ceasefire agreed between India and Pakistan during Operation Sindoor in 2025.
In more recent events, in June 2025, Prime Minister Modi clarified to President Trump that there was no US mediation in the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, reiterating India's stance against external mediation in such conflicts. Despite claims of US involvement in other contexts, the official statements from India emphasise the absence of US mediation in their specific ceasefire agreements.
As tensions between India and Pakistan continue to escalate, the Indian Foreign Minister's statements underscore India's commitment to combating terrorism and maintaining its sovereignty.
In the wake of the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, Foreign Minister Jaishankar has made it clear that India will adopt a policy of no impunity regarding terrorism, refusing to accept terrorists as proxies separate from sponsor countries, and demanding concrete steps from Pakistan to eradicate terrorism before any talks can commence (politics, general-news). Furthermore, in financial and market contexts, the statements from Prime Minister Modi and Foreign Minister Jaishankar indicate that India maintains its stance against external mediation, such as the US, in its ceasefire agreements with Pakistan (finance, market, war-and-conflicts).
