Luxembourg Jan 8 : India’s relationship with Pakistan remains an exception in contemporary global diplomacy due to Islamabad’s long-standing and open support for terrorism, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday, adding that New Delhi has no choice but to frame its policies around this “unpalatable reality”.
“There are some exceptions. For us, the relationship with Pakistan is an exception,” Jaishankar said, explaining that Pakistan’s conduct towards India has few parallels in the modern international system.
Challenging critics to find a comparable example, he added: “Show me in the world in this day and age any country which actually has actually pursued the kind of policies that Pakistan has against its neighbour.”
Jaishankar said Pakistan’s use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy was neither covert nor episodic, but sustained and visible over decades.
“For decades, you had these training camps, not secret training camps; they’re all training camps in the big cities of Pakistan, very open, where the state, the military supports terrorism,” he said.
Pakistan has sought to legitimise such actions internationally, despite growing global scepticism, EAM Jaishankar added.
“And they try to normalise it as though it’s their right to do it,” he said, adding that such narratives no longer find acceptance. “Nobody buys it anymore. Everybody knows that these are people who are supporting the state.”
Describing this as a harsh but unavoidable truth, Jaishankar said India cannot afford to ignore the implications of Pakistan’s actions. “It’s a very unpalatable reality but it’s one which we cannot be oblivious to,” he said.
He stressed that India’s foreign and security policies must be grounded in this assessment. “We have to build our policies, saying okay, that’s how that particular neighbour is going to be,” Jaishankar said.
On New Delhi’s broader approach, he drew a clear distinction between countries that cooperate constructively with India and those that undermine its security. “Those who are willing to work with us and be helpful, positive, we’ll have to deal with them in that way,” he said. “Those who do the kind of things which Pakistan does, we’ll have to deal with it in a different way.”
India views Luxembourg as a “very important” partner, and the two countries can enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields, including fintech, space, and AI, said EAM Jaishankar, who is on a six-day visit to France and Luxembourg, held talks with Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden on “growing” bilateral cooperation, including in finance, investment and tech sectors.
He also held delegation-level talks with Xavier Bettel, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Luxembourg.
In the opening remarks at his meeting with Bettel, Jaishankar said India views Luxembourg as a “very important” partner, both bilaterally and within the European Union, and at a “very crucial time in the development of our own ties” with the EU.
“The influence that you have in shaping that larger relationship, the support that you extend, that is something which is of great value to us,” he said.
The external affairs minister said that apart from a “very solid trade account” that the two countries share, New Delhi and Luxembourg can collaborate much more on many interesting issues, including fintech, space, the digital world, and AI.
In a post on X, Jaishankar called the meeting “excellent” and said he had a warm interaction with Bettel, “covering our bilateral cooperation and the global situation.”
“Specifically discussed finance, investments, digital, AI, space and talent mobility. As well as continued deepening of India-EU ties. Appreciate his personal interest in explaining Luxembourg’s heritage and tradition,” he said.
In his meeting with Prime Minister Frieden, Jaishankar conveyed the “warm greetings” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The two discussed growing cooperation in financial services, investments, technology and innovation.
Jaishankar also thanked Frieden for his support for “stronger India-EU ties.”
Frieden said that he had a “good exchange” with the Indian minister.
“Our talks focused on strengthening our nations’ bilateral ties and key global developments,” he said in a social media post.
Jaishankar also called on Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg.
“Conveyed the warm greetings of President Droupadi Murmu. Value his positive sentiments for India, and for deepening our bilateral partnership,” Jaishankar said in a separate X post.
In Luxembourg, Jaishankar will also interact with the members of the Indian community.
