External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday articulated a firm and uncompromising stance on India’s national security policy, describing Pakistan as a “bad neighbour” and reaffirming India’s sovereign right to defend its people against terrorism. Addressing students at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, he stressed that India’s security decisions are non-negotiable and will not be influenced by external pressure or international commentary.

Elaborating on India’s recent counter-terror measures, Jaishankar referred to Operation Sindoor, which was launched following the April terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that claimed 26 civilian lives. The attack was traced to The Resistance Front, a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, prompting India to strike terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as part of its response.

The minister said that when a neighbouring country repeatedly and deliberately uses terrorism as a policy instrument, India is left with no choice but to act in defence of its citizens. He emphasised that while India remains a responsible global actor, it alone will determine how and when its right to self-defence is exercised, making it clear that no external authority can dictate those decisions.

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Jaishankar also addressed the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, linking it directly to the erosion of trust caused by decades of cross-border terrorism. He argued that cooperative agreements are founded on good neighbourliness, and such arrangements cannot be sustained when one party continues hostile actions while expecting the benefits of bilateral cooperation.

Placing India’s approach in a broader regional context, Jaishankar noted that the country seeks stable and constructive relations with its neighbours and has consistently extended support to those who act in good faith. However, he reiterated that India will respond decisively to threats to its security, adding that many of the challenges India faces originate from the policies and actions of Pakistan’s military leadership rather than from episodic developments.

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