‘Pakistan army behind many of India’s problems,’ says S Jaishankar

EAM Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday that many of India’s long-standing problems stem from the Pakistan army, which he described as the source of ideological hostility towards New Delhi.

Speaking at the HT Leadership Summit, Jaishankar said the ideological hostility towards India comes from the Pakistan army.

“When you look at terrorism, the training camps, and the ideological hostility towards India, where does it come from? It comes from the army,” Jaishankar said. He added that India should avoid getting “over-obsessed” with comparisons, noting the stark difference in capabilities and global reputation between the two neighbours.

Commenting on Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir, Jaishankar remarked, “Like there are good terrorists and bad terrorists, there are good military leaders and not-so-good ones.”

Asked whether India could have acted differently during Operation Sindoor, he underlined that India’s actions are rooted in rules, accountability, and transparency. “There are things we do and things we don’t. We have norms. If we take any step, we are accountable to the people, the media, and civil society. It would be unreal to compare ourselves with them.”

Operation Sindoor, carried out in May, involved 24 missile strikes across nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack. The strikes killed 70 terrorists and injured 60 more. Pakistan responded with what India termed arbitrary and indiscriminate firing across the Line of Control. Both sides agreed to a ceasefire on May 10.