Jaishankar has an ‘empathy’ ask for US as ties strain

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has underscored the US's inadequate appreciation of India's core security concerns as a significant obstacle in bilateral relations, specifically citing persistent cross-border terrorism orchestrated by Pakistan. Speaking at an Asia Society event in New York, Jaishankar detailed trade complications and a lack of sensitivity towards state-sponsored terror as key issues.

He asserted that Pakistan's history of weaponizing terrorism as a state policy has caused immense suffering for India, stating, "Perhaps there are very few countries which have been subjected to the kind of terrorism that we have from a neighbour as part of a deliberate conscious policy over many, many decades." Jaishankar emphasized the critical importance of security for India and warned against foreign policy approaches that fail to acknowledge these vital national interests.

He cautioned that if an issue of profound importance to India is not fully appreciated by its partner, it will undoubtedly impact the relationship. He noted that Trump's administration has largely refrained from holding Pakistan accountable, a stark contrast to previous US administrations that formally acknowledged Pakistan's complicity in supporting global terrorism.

The peak of Pakistan's alleged complicity was during the 2001 al-Qaeda attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, where al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was found under state protection in Pakistan.