Jaishankar said terrorism is a fundamental issue in India-Pakistan relations from which no one can escape and “we cannot deny the fundamental problems”.
Pune:
Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday virtually rejected the idea of helping Pakistan out of its economic predicament. In the ‘Asia Economic Dialogue’ organized by the Ministry of External Affairs here, Jaishankar said that he will keep in mind the local public sentiment while taking any major decision.
He said, “I will know what my people feel about it. And I think you know the answer.” Pakistan is grappling with an economic crisis and has not been able to negotiate with multilateral institutions. In recent times, India has extended help to neighboring countries like Sri Lanka.
Jaishankar said terrorism is a fundamental issue in India-Pakistan relations from which no one can escape and “we cannot deny the fundamental problems”. “No country is ever out of trouble,” he said. Can’t emerge and become a prosperous power, if its core industry is terrorism.
Without naming Pakistan, he said, “A country has to solve its economic issues, in the same way it has to solve its political and social issues.” Jaishankar also made it clear that a country has to face serious economic issues. It is not in anyone’s interest to see difficulties, and that too of a neighboring country.
He said that once a country is in the grip of a serious economic problem, it has to find policy options to come out of it. He said that other people cannot solve it for the country. Jaishankar said the world can only provide alternatives and support. He made it clear that Pakistan will have to take tough decisions.
He said that India has also gone through similar challenges many times in its modern history. Jaishankar, meanwhile, said that since Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, there has been a marked change in the country’s approach towards the neighboring countries and also the Prime Minister’s decision to invite heads of state for the swearing-in ceremony marks the beginning of a new relationship. Also reminded about the decision.
Jaishankar said that India is also buying or selling electricity with many of its neighbors. He said that he has recently started buying power from Nepal.
(This news has not been edited by NDTV team. It is published directly from syndicate feed.)