'Often countries do not take position': Jaishankar slams global double standards on terrorism

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday slammed the global community’s selective approach to terrorism, highlighting how some countries only take strong positions when they themselves are targeted.

#WATCH | Washington, DC | EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "It is a fact that often countries do not take a position when some other countries are victims of terrorism, which they would do when they themselves are. In that respect honestly, we have been much more consistent and… pic.twitter.com/mSvBOv0YNP

— ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2025

“It is a fact that often countries do not take a position when some other countries are victims of terrorism, which they would do when they themselves are,” Jaishankar said while speaking to the media in Washington DC after attending the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting.

Jaishankar said India’s diplomatic approach has largely maintained the same response to terror attacks abroad as it does for those on its own soil.

“In that respect honestly, we have been much more consistent and principled,” he added.

Jaishankar emphasised the importance of pushing for a more unified global response to terrorism.

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“Many of them are not doing it or not doing it sufficiently enough, and part of diplomacy is to exhort them, encourage them, persuade them, motivate them to do that,” he said.

“That is why it’s important to speak up, and to carry them with us to the best possibility,” he added.

Jaishankar, referring to Operation Sindoor post Pakistan-backed Pahalagam terror attack,  said India has sent an unambiguous message that it will not tolerate terrorism in any form.

#WATCH | Washington, DC | EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "...What we have communicated very clearly is we mean it when we say there is zero tolerance for terrorism...If you look back at the Prime Minister's address to the nation after the cessation of firing on the 10th of May, there… pic.twitter.com/CmaaaGMXiG

— ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2025

“…What we have communicated very clearly is we mean it when we say there is zero tolerance for terrorism…If you look back at the Prime Minister’s address to the nation after the cessation of firing on the 10th of May, there were some very clear messages which came out of that…It’s really for the terrorist groupings and for their sponsors to absorb and reflect on those messages,” said Jaishankar.

Rejecting the idea of publicly outlining India’s next steps, Jaishankar said, “I don’t think we are going to spell out — if this happens, we will do that. No government does that.”

Jaishankar said at the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting he told his partners that India had the right to defend itself against terrorist activities and hold the perpetrators accountable.

“With each of my counterparts, I have shared with them the sense that the nature of the terrorists challenge, the fact that we have confronted it over multiple decades and that we are very resolved today to respond to it very firmly and we have the right to defend ourselves,” he said.

#WATCH | Washington, DC | EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "...With each of my counterparts, I have shared with them the sense that the nature of the terrorists challenge, the fact that we have confronted it over multiple decades and that we are very resolved today to respond to it very… pic.twitter.com/3PVjyOAjrz

— ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2025

“The perpetrators of terrorism must be held accountable, they must be brought to justice and that’s important because we have to communicate to the world that what we did on 7th May, the objective of Operation Sindoor is that if there are terrorist attacks, we will act against the perpetrators, the supporters, the enablers. That message was conveyed with great clarity,” he added.

Jaishankar further said the issue of US President Donald Trump brokering the ceasefire between India and Pakistan did not come up at the meeting, although he maintained that a truce was decided in the meeting between the DGMOs of two countries.

During the press conference, Jaishankar also hailed the all-party delegations to convey India’s message after Operation Sindoor, saying it conveyed a strong message of national unity.

#WATCH | Washington, DC | EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "I have spoken about the all-party delegations in India...We very much value and appreciate what they did...It serves our national interest. When you have a broadband set of people who speak with one voice abroad, it conveys a… pic.twitter.com/y1ZcMjHiVK

— ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2025

“I have spoken about the all-party delegations in India…We very much value and appreciate what they did…It serves our national interest. When you have a broadband set of people who speak with one voice abroad, it conveys a strong message of national unity. It underlines a certain seriousness about responding to terrorism… You saw the political pluralism of India come together on an important issue and send a strong unified message and I think that was something really great and it’s something which quite apart from being a minister, honestly, as a person, as an Indian citizen, I applaud that,” said the external affairs minister.

India launched Operation Sindoor targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. India struck several terror hideouts and eliminated more than 100 terrorists.

Earlier today, the foreign ministers of all Quad countries unequivocally condemned the April 22’s ghastly terror attack, which claimed 26 lives.

“We express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and extend our heartfelt wishes for a swift and full recovery to all those injured. We call for the perpetrators, organisers, and financiers of this reprehensible act to be brought to justice without any delay and urge all UN member States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant UNSCRs, to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this regard,” the statement said.

With inputs from agencies