 "EAM Dr S Jaishankar at News18 Rising Bharat Summit (Photo: CNN-News18)")
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar raised concerns about the crisis of Baloch civilians in Pakistan and reiterated how Islamabad is being consumed by a “terrorism industry” which they created. The remarks from the Indian foreign minister came on day 2 of News18’s flagship Rising Bharat Summit, being held from April 8 through April 9.
When asked about the rise of terrorism in the country, Jaishankar was initially hesitant to respond to the matter due to “finger pointing” but added that even the people of Pakistan have also raised concerns about the growing terrorism in the country. He also shared his take on the downfall of Saarc (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation).
The external affairs minister also mentioned that India welcomes the decision of the American legal process in regard to the extradition of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, the main accused of the 26/11 terror attack that rocked Mumbai in 2008.
If you start a terrorism industry, you will be consumed by it
While commenting on the rise of terrorism in Pakistan, Jaishankar emphasised that one doesn’t have to pinpoint anything, since everything is visible. “Even they say it,” Jaishankar says in regard to the matter.
“I mean, it’s not like I’m making an accusation and everybody in Pakistan is saying, ’no, no, no, this is completely untrue.’ You have people in Pakistan who openly declare that they are doing terrorist activities in India. So this is not an argument,” he said.
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More Shorts“I mean, this is not a hypothesis. This is something they proudly claim. So I think, you know, we’ve always maintained, not just us, I mean, all sensible people have maintained that if you start a terrorism industry, you will be presumed by it. That is exactly what we see today in Pakistan,” he said.
When asked about the turbulent situation in Balochistan, Jaishankar described the ongoing tensions as ‘disturbing’. He said, “I mean, there is clearly a very disturbed situation there. People are suffering there. And if I say something, there’ll be a finger-pointing.”
Regarding the future of the Saarc, in which both Pakistan and India are part, the external affairs minister shared an interesting anecdote. “Well, let me pose that question to you. I mean, would you be okay if we were nice to each other in the morning and I came and attacked your house at night? I mean, would you live with me,” he asked, leaving it open for the audience to figure out where India stands.