4 hrs ago
Jaishankar Says US Empathy Gap Hurts India Ties
India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke about India’s relationship with the United States.
He said India is deeply worried about terrorism coming across its border from Pakistan.
He said this problem has continued for many years and has been used as a deliberate policy.
Jaishankar believes the United States does not fully understand how serious this issue is for India.
He said this lack of understanding can make cooperation between the two countries harder.
He also mentioned disagreements over trade.
At a separate United Nations speech, he said India would defend itself against terrorism.
Pakistan’s prime minister described India’s earlier military action as aggression, showing that the two countries have different views of the conflict.
S Jaishankar said insufficient US understanding of India’s security priorities is harming bilateral relations.
He attributed India’s persistent cross-border terrorism concerns to a neighboring country, clearly referring to Pakistan.
Jaishankar said India has faced terrorism as a deliberate state policy for many decades.
He identified trade complications as another challenge in India-US relations.
He said India’s security concerns must be better understood, appreciated, and treated with empathy by its partners.
- Who
- External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, along with references to the governments of India, the United States, and Pakistan.
- What
- Jaishankar said insufficient US empathy and understanding of India’s terrorism and security concerns are affecting India-US relations.
- Where
- At an Asia Society event in New York, with related remarks also made at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
- When
- At an event held on Monday; accompanying social-media posts were dated September 29, 2026.
- Why
- Jaishankar said India has faced deliberate, state-linked terrorism from a neighboring country for many decades and considers security particularly important.
India’s Position
Pakistan’s Position
Characterization of terrorism and military action
India’s Position
Jaishankar said India has faced terrorism from a neighboring country as a deliberate policy for decades and said India will defend itself against terrorism.
Pakistan’s Position
Shehbaz Sharif described India’s Operation Sindoor, which targeted alleged terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, as external aggression under a false pretext.
Role of the United States
India’s Position
Jaishankar said insufficient US understanding, appreciation, or empathy for India’s security concerns creates problems in the bilateral relationship.
Pakistan’s Position
The article says Sharif thanked US President Donald Trump for what he called timely intervention in the India-Pakistan conflict, while India rejected claims of US mediation.
Diplomatic engagement
India’s Position
India’s officials said military actions ended after direct talks between the Indian and Pakistani militaries, without US mediation.
Pakistan’s Position
The article reports that Trump took credit for brokering a ceasefire and that Pakistan presented itself as helping mediate between the United States and Iran.
Key facts
- Speaker
- S Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister
- Main security concern
- Persistent cross-border terrorism that Jaishankar attributed to Pakistan
- Diplomatic impact
- Jaishankar said inadequate US understanding of India’s security priorities affects bilateral ties
- Additional challenge
- Trade complications between India and the United States
- Event
- Asia Society discussion in New York
- Related UN remarks
- Jaishankar said India would exercise its right to defend itself against terrorism
- Contrasting account
- Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described India’s Operation Sindoor as external aggression
Quotes
S. Jaishankar
India’s External Affairs Minister
“Our right to defend ourselves against terrorism will be exercised. Friendship and goodwill cannot coexist with terrorism, and understandings premised on that will naturally be called into question. It is for the perpetrator of terrorism to mend its ways.”
financialexpress.com
“Yesterday, a serial practitioner of terrorism misrepresented fact before this assembly. Arguments were invoked to normalise terrorism and claim immunity for its consequences. That will not stand.”
financialexpress.com











