Question for Your Minister: Response of Minister S Jaishankar to a Pakistani Journalist
Terrorism, according to S Jaishankar, who presided over the ‘UN Security Council Briefing: Global Counterterrorism Approach: Challenges and Way Forward,’ is an existential threat to international peace and security.
The world sees Pakistan as the “epicentre” of terrorism, said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday, insisting that the international community has not forgotten where the threat originates, despite the brain fog caused by Covid-19 for over two years.
He made the remarks while speaking to reporters at the UN Security Council stakeout following a signature event on the ‘Global Counterterrorism Approach: Challenges and Way Forward,’ which was held during India’s presidency of the Council.
“In terms of what they say, the truth is that the world today sees them as the epicentre of terrorism,” he said.
“I know we’ve been through Covid for two and a half years, and a lot of us have brain fog as a result. But I assure you that the world has not forgotten where terrorism comes from, or who has their fingerprints on a wide range of activities in the region and beyond.
“So, I would say that it’s something they should remember before indulging in the kinds of fantasies that they do,” he added.
Mr Jaishankar was responding to a question on Pakistan Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar’s recent allegation that “no country had used terrorism better than India”.
He cited US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who said in a joint news conference with then-Pakistan Foreign Minister Khar in 2011: “You can’t keep snakes in your backyard and expect them to only bite your neighbours.”
“I read about what Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said. And I was reminded, more than a decade ago, that my memory is accurate. Hillary Clinton was in Pakistan at the time. Hina Rabbani Khar was also a minister at the time “In response to a question about Khar’s recent statements about a dossier against India, Mr Jaishankar stated.
“Standing beside her, Hillary Clinton stated that if you have snakes in your backyard, you can’t expect them to only bite your neighbours. They will eventually bite the people who keep them in the backyard. However, as you are aware, Pakistan is not particularly good at accepting sound advice. You can see what’s going on there, “He stated.
Pakistan should clean up its act and try to be a good neighbour, Mr Jaishankar said, emphasising that the world is not “stupid” and is increasingly calling out terrorist countries, organisations, and individuals.
He was replying to a Pakistani reporter’s question about how long South Asia would witness the spread of terrorism from New Delhi, Kabul and Pakistan.
“At the end of the day, the world is not stupid, the world is not forgetting. And the world is increasingly calling out terrorist nations, organizations and individuals,” he said.
“By moving the discussion elsewhere, you’re not hiding it. No one bothers you anymore. People figured it out. So, please clean up your act. Please try to be a good neighbor.
“Please try to contribute to what the rest of the world is trying to do today,” Mr Jaishankar said, referring to economic growth, progress, and development.