S Jaishankar Critiques Western Support for Pakistan's Military Regime

Jaishankar's Strong Statements on Western Influence

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has expressed that no other entity has contributed to the military regime in Pakistan and undermined its democracy as significantly as Western nations.

He highlighted terrorism as a pressing global issue, which he believes is on par with climate change and rising poverty.

In an interview with a Danish newspaper, Jaishankar criticized European nations for their support of Pakistan during its military dictatorship.

"Since our independence in 1947, Pakistan has violated our borders in Kashmir. What have we witnessed over the last eight decades?" he questioned.

He pointed out that Europe, which prides itself on democracy, has aligned itself with military dictatorships in the region.

"The West has been the most significant supporter of the military regime in Pakistan, undermining its democratic processes," he stated.

During his visit to Copenhagen, part of a tour that includes the Netherlands and Germany, Jaishankar reiterated India's commitment to respecting the sovereignty and internationally recognized borders of nations.

"My perspective on Europe is shaped by my experiences. You speak of border inviolability—why not start with respecting my borders?" he remarked.

Jaishankar's comments were made in response to questions about India's oil purchases from Russia amidst its ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

He explained that Europe has been inflating energy prices for developing nations, including India, by sourcing oil from the Middle East.

"Wealthy Europe turned to the Middle East due to its issues with Russia, offering inflated prices that made oil unaffordable for many countries, including us," he noted.

"What were we supposed to do? Just forgo energy because Europeans needed it more?" he asked.

Jaishankar reiterated that terrorism remains a top global challenge.

"Among the significant collective challenges today, I would rank terrorism at the forefront, alongside climate change, poverty, and the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Global South," he stated.

In a separate interview with a Danish broadcaster, he discussed the understanding reached between India and Pakistan on May 10 to cease hostilities, which was directly negotiated by the military forces of both nations.

His remarks come in light of claims by former US President Donald Trump that the US facilitated the truce.

"We had a brief conflict, which we resolved through a direct military understanding to halt fighting. This was negotiated between our militaries," he explained.

Jaishankar described how the conflict escalated until May 10, when India conducted significant strikes against terrorist infrastructure in response to a prior attack.

Following India's actions, Pakistan attempted to retaliate, but these efforts were met with strong responses from India.

On May 10, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced that both nations had agreed to cease all military actions across land, air, and sea immediately.