(HT)
External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Friday asserted that India will never give in to nuclear blackmail, and those who “sponsor, nurture and utilise” terrorism should be made to pay a heavy price.
Speaking at a convocation ceremony of foreign students of Parul University in Gujarat’s Vadodara, Jaishankar also commented that it has become a “fashion in some quarters to openly become transactional” in international relations.
“In Pahalgam (terror attack) what we saw was an attempt to devastate the tourism economy of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir as well as an evil design to bring (about) religious discord,” the minister said.
“It is imperative that those who sponsor, nurture and utilize terrorism for their ends are made to pay a high cost,” he said. “We will never give in to nuclear blackmail and whatever decisions are to be taken in India’s national interest are taken and will continue to be taken.”
Commenting on the difference between the diplomacy practised by India and that by some other countries, Jaishankar referred to “transactional” policies of some nations.
“It has become a fashion in some quarters to be openly transactional when it comes to dealing with other nations. Bear in mind that some are actually practicing it in reality while preaching the opposite,” he said.
