'Let's not pretend Pakistan is not involved in terrorism': Jaishankar in Netherlands

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar called out the Pakistani establishment for being involved in the rise of terrorist groups in the country. The remarks from the Indian diplomat came during his visit to the Netherlands. While New Delhi has often accused Pakistan of supporting terrorist groups on its soil and provided evidence for the same, Islamabad has cried wolf over the matter.

During an interview with Netherlands-based NOS, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar defended his assertion that Pakistan is the “ epicentre of terrorism ”. The animosities between the two nations reached an all-time high following the Pahalgam terror attack, in which terrorists linked to a Pakistani terror group killed 26 people at a tourist destination in Kashmir.

“I am not suggesting that, I am stating that. Suppose that there were large military centres in the middle of a city like Amsterdam, where tens of thousands of people gathered for military training, would you say that your government knows nothing about that? Of course not,” Jaishankar told the Dutch news outlet when asked if he believed terror groups active in Pakistan receive support from Islamabad.

‘We should not go along with the narrative that Pakistan does not know what is going on. The most notorious terrorists on the United Nations (UN) sanctions list are all in Pakistan. They operate in the big cities, in broad daylight. Their addresses are known. Their activities are known. Their mutual contacts are known. So let’s not pretend that Pakistan is not involved. The state is involved. The army is up to its neck in it," he added.

Jaishankar blames Munir for the Pahalgam terror attack

During his visit to Denmark, Jaishankar blamed Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir’s “ extreme religious outlook ” for the Pahalgam terror attack. “It started because it was triggered by a very barbaric terror attack where 26 tourists were murdered in front of their families after ascertaining their faith. It was intended to harm tourism and to create religious discord,” he said during his visit to Denmark.

“You have a Pakistani army chief driven by an extreme religious outlook, so some connect with the views expressed and conduct," Jaishankar furthered. After he met with his Danish counterpart, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, in Copenhagen, Jaishankar will visit to the Netherlands.

It was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was supposed to visit the country. However, due to the simmering India-Pakistan tensions, Jaishankar represented India in both European nations.