Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan on Saturday strongly dismissed comments made by Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, describing them as reckless and accusing New Delhi of attempting to divert attention from its own role in destabilizing the region.
In a statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Office responded after Indian media quoted Jaishankar referring to “bad neighbours” while justifying India’s stance on terrorism. Without naming him directly, the FO said India was once again resorting to allegations to mask what it called its “deeply troubling conduct as a regional actor.”
Speaking on Friday, Jaishankar claimed India had the right to defend itself against terrorism, pointing indirectly towards Pakistan. He alleged that a neighbouring country to India’s west had, in his words, “persistently and unrepentantly” used terrorism as a policy tool, adding that such behaviour left New Delhi with no option but to act in self-defense.
The Indian minister also addressed the Indus Waters Treaty, suggesting that decades of alleged terrorism had eroded the spirit of goodwill on which the water-sharing agreement was based. He argued that cooperation under the treaty could not continue if hostility persisted.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office rejected these claims outright, saying India was attempting to rewrite facts. It stated that India itself had a documented history of sponsoring and facilitating terrorist activities in the region, particularly inside Pakistan.
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The FO cited the case of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav as a clear example of state-backed subversion. Jadhav was arrested in Balochistan in 2016 and later confessed to espionage and involvement in terrorist operations on behalf of India’s intelligence agency. He remains in Pakistani custody.
The statement also raised concerns over what it described as India’s pattern of covert operations, including targeted killings abroad, sabotage through intermediaries, and support for militant networks. According to the FO, such actions align with the extremist ideology promoted by hardline elements within India.
Reaffirming its position on Kashmir, Pakistan said India continues to maintain what it termed an illegal and violent occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. Islamabad reiterated its commitment to providing political, moral, and diplomatic backing to the Kashmiri people in their pursuit of self-determination, as outlined in United Nations resolutions.
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Addressing the Indus Waters Treaty, the Foreign Office stressed that the agreement was signed in good faith and remains a binding international obligation. It warned that any unilateral move by India to undermine the treaty would threaten regional stability and damage India’s credibility under international law. Pakistan, the statement added, would take all necessary steps to protect its lawful rights.
