EAM Jaishankar Warns Pakistan: “India Reserves the Absolute Right to Defend Its People Against Hostile Neighbours”

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India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar issued a stern warning to Pakistan and called it a bad neighbor while addressing students at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. He also noted that India has the right to defend its people and counter terrorism. 

Impact of Operation Sindoor on Regional Security


Operation Sindoor marks a shift from passive restraint to active deterrence. It focused on striking terror sites in Pakistan and PoK. Minister S Jaishankar stated that "nobody can tell us what we should or should not do."

India exercised its right to defend against cross-border threats. The operation hit nine locations linked to the LeT and JeM groups. It used high-tech drones and precision missiles for these strikes. This action directly challenged the nuclear doctrine of the Western neighbor. India showed that nuclear threats will not stop conventional responses, and every act of terror now meets an assured military reply.

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Jaishankar also said, “You can also have bad neighbours. Unfortunately, we do. When you have bad neighbours, if you look to the one to the west, if a country decides that it will deliberately, persistently, and unrepentantly continue with terrorism, we have a right to defend our people against terrorism. We will exercise that right.” 

Overall, Operation Sindoor proved that conventional punishment can be delivered without triggering total war. It effectively called a long-standing strategic bluff regarding the nuclear threshold in South Asia.

The Link Between Water Treaties and Neighbourly Conduct


India has placed the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance following the recent attacks on Indian soil. Minister Jaishankar emphasized that "blood and water will not flow together" anymore. He said that cooperation between the two countries requires a baseline of good conduct. A state cannot demand water while supporting terrorism, and suspending the treaty gives India control over the western rivers. He also noted that India can now build reservoirs that were once restricted.

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This move sends a clear message about mutual respect. Regional benefits are no longer guaranteed to those who break the peace. Diplomacy is now guided by strict and clear reciprocity. This policy basically transforms water into a moral lever for diplomacy. It suggests that environmental cooperation is a privilege reserved for nations that respect the sanctity of human life.