India vows to ‘react’ to Pakistan-supported terrorism

New Delhi has been accusing Islamabad of sponsoring terrorism in Kashmir, over which the two neighbours fought wars

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has lashed out at neighboring Pakistan, vowing that New Delhi will react with “consequences” to actions by Islamabad. The minister appeared to be referring to increased terrorist activity in Kashmir, a region over which the South Asian neighbors have fought several wars since their independence from Britain in 1947.

Speaking at an event in the Indian capital earlier this week, Jaishankar said:  “The era of uninterrupted dialogue with Pakistan is over. Actions have consequences.” 

He stressed that New Delhi is not “passive” and will “react” whether its relations with Islamabad take a positive or negative direction.

New Delhi has accused Pakistan of sponsoring cross-border terrorism both at domestic and international forums. While visiting Singapore earlier this year, Jaishankar asserted that India cannot “overlook” terrorism in its attempts to mend ties with Pakistan. Islamabad is sponsoring terrorism at almost an “industry level,” Jaishankar claimed, adding that India’s mood currently is not to overlook “terrorists.”

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Relations between India and Pakistan have touched new lows after Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government abrogated Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which granted certain level of autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir. Islamabad reacted by downgrading ties with India. Last year, Pakistan strongly rejected the Indian Supreme Court’s judgement upholding abrogation of Article 370.

Speaking on Islamabad’s opposition to the verdict, Jaishankar asserted that Article 370 “is done.” 

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The top Indian diplomat’s comments come weeks after Modi accused Pakistan of “failing to learn from history” by backing terrorists. Islamabad has denounced the comments as “bravado and jingoism.” 

Earlier, both Modi and Jaishankar insisted in separate interactions with media that in the next five years India would focus on finding solutions to its border disputes with China and Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Pakistan earlier this year accused India of “orchestrating targeted assassinations, subversion and terrorism in foreign territories.” Islamabad claimed that “Indian agents” killed two Pakistani citizens linked to terrorist groups on its soil earlier this year – an accusation that New Delhi has dismissed as “false and malicious” propaganda.

Despite the friction, Pakistan has invited Modi to attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to be held in Islamabad in October. Modi, however, is unlikely to attend the event and will instead send a delegate on his behalf, Indian media has reported.