Is India going after Pak? 'Era of uninterrupted dialogue is over,' says S Jaishankar | WATCH

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has marked a significant shift in India's stance towards Pakistan, declaring that the "era of uninterrupted dialogue" is over. Speaking at a private event in Delhi this week, Jaishankar issued a stern message to Pakistan, warning that "actions have consequences" for those who support terrorism targeting India.

'We are not passive'

Jaishankar’s statement highlights a departure from the previous diplomatic approach of continuous dialogue, regardless of ongoing tensions. He emphasized that India is prepared to respond to developments across the border, whether positive or negative. "We are not passive," he stated, underlining India’s readiness to react based on the direction events take.

Volatile relations and Pakistan harbouring terrorism

Relations between India and Pakistan have long been turbulent, with border disputes in Jammu and Kashmir frequently igniting tensions. New Delhi has persistently voiced concerns over Pakistan's support for cross-border terrorism, raising these issues at both bilateral meetings and international platforms.

During his March visit to Singapore, Jaishankar criticized Pakistan's "industry-level" sponsorship of terrorism. He made it clear that India would no longer ignore this problem, stating, "How do you deal with a neighbor who uses terrorism as an instrument of statecraft?" He also affirmed that India would no longer allow dialogue to continue while enduring repeated terror attacks.

Speaking at the release of Amb Rajiv Sikri’s book ‘Strategic Conundrums: Reshaping India’s Foreign Policy’ in Delhi today.

https://t.co/DxUjT1NVie

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 30, 2024

Zero tolerance for cross-border terrorism

In his remarks, Jaishankar reiterated India's zero-tolerance policy for cross-border terrorism, referencing the Balakot airstrike as a message that there would be consequences for attacks on Indian soil. The Balakot operation, a precision strike by Indian forces on a terror camp in Pakistan, followed a terror attack that claimed the lives of 19 Indian soldiers.

Kashmir elections and dialogue advocacy

Jaishankar's comments come just weeks before the first Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir in a decade, scheduled to begin on September 18. Political parties in the region, including the National Conference (NC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), have advocated for resuming dialogue with Pakistan as part of their election manifestos.

Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's PDP manifesto calls for diplomatic initiatives with Pakistan, focusing on conflict resolution and regional cooperation. Similarly, the NC, led by former Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar, has allied with Congress and also emphasizes dialogue with Pakistan.

Criticism from the BJP

The BJP, however, has criticized these calls for dialogue, with Home Minister Amit Shah questioning whether Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi support "nurturing terrorism and its ecosystem," a reference to the policies advocated by the NC and PDP. The BJP maintains that resuming diplomatic ties with Pakistan is incompatible with addressing terrorism effectively.