Chennai – External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday called Pakistan a “bad neighbour” and asserted that India has the unequivocal right to defend its people against terrorism. The Jaishankar Pakistan bad neighbour statement came during his address to students at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, where he spoke candidly about India’s approach to cross-border terrorism and national security.
The minister emphasized that “nobody can tell us what we should or should not do” in an apparent reference to Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to terrorist attacks perpetrated from Pakistani territory. The Jaishankar Pakistan bad neighbour remarks reflect India’s firm stance on protecting its citizens and territory from persistent terrorist threats.
India’s Right to Defend Against Terrorism
Speaking at IIT Madras, Jaishankar articulated India’s position on dealing with terrorism sponsored by neighboring countries. The Jaishankar Pakistan bad neighbour statement included a clear declaration that when a country deliberately, persistently, and unrepentantly continues with terrorism, India has the right to defend its people against such threats.
“You can also have bad neighbours. Unfortunately, we do. When you have bad neighbours, if you look to the one to the west, if a country decides that it will deliberately, persistently, and unrepentantly continue with terrorism, we have a right to defend our people against terrorism. We will exercise that right,” Jaishankar stated emphatically.
The minister further asserted that how India exercises this right is entirely up to the country itself. The Jaishankar Pakistan bad neighbour remarks made clear that India will do whatever necessary to defend itself, without seeking approval or permission from any external entity.
Reference to Operation Sindoor
The Jaishankar Pakistan bad neighbour statement appeared to reference Operation Sindoor, which India conducted last year in response to the devastating Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. The operation targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir following the April attack that was perpetrated by The Resistance Front, a proxy of Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
India exercised its right to defend its people against terrorism through Operation Sindoor, demonstrating the practical application of the policy articulated in the Jaishankar Pakistan bad neighbour statement. The operation represented a significant military response to cross-border terrorism that has plagued India for decades.
Indus Waters Treaty Suspension
The Jaishankar Pakistan bad neighbour remarks also addressed the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) of 1960 with Pakistan, which occurred after the deadly Pahalgam attack. Jaishankar explained that decades of terrorism are incompatible with good neighbourliness, and countries cannot expect to receive benefits of good neighbourly relations while simultaneously sponsoring terrorism.
“Many years ago, we agreed to a water-sharing arrangement, but if you had decades of terrorism, there is no good neighbourliness. If there is no good neighbourliness, you don’t get the benefits of that good neighbourliness. You can’t say, ‘Please share water with me, but I will continue terrorism with you.’ That’s not reconcilable,” he stated.
This aspect of the Jaishankar Pakistan bad neighbour statement demonstrates how India is willing to use all available diplomatic and strategic levers to respond to persistent terrorism.
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Contrast with Other Neighbours
Jaishankar provided context for the Jaishankar Pakistan bad neighbour statement by contrasting Pakistan with India’s other neighbours. He noted that India is blessed with “a lot of neighbours of various kinds” and explained that when a neighbour is good or at least not harmful, India’s natural instinct is to be kind and helpful.
“If you have a neighbour who is good to you or at least who is not harmful to you, your natural instinct is to be kind, to help that neighbour, and that’s what we do as a country,” he said. This contextualization makes the Jaishankar Pakistan bad neighbour statement more impactful by showing that India’s approach varies based on how it is treated.
Previous Statements on Pakistan Army
The Jaishankar Pakistan bad neighbour statement follows earlier remarks where the minister said that “much of India’s problems” emanate from the Pakistani army. Last month, he made an observation about good and bad military leaders, which was interpreted as a reference to Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.
These consistent statements demonstrate that the Jaishankar Pakistan bad neighbour position represents a sustained and coherent policy approach rather than isolated rhetoric.
The Pahalgam Attack and Its Aftermath
Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated significantly following the Pahalgam attack on April 22, which resulted in 26 civilian deaths. After establishing cross-border links to the attack, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, striking multiple terror camps in Pakistan and PoK and reportedly killing over 100 terrorists.
The Jaishankar Pakistan bad neighbour statement reflects the continuing impact of this incident on bilateral relations. Pakistan responded with a massive missile and drone attack, which India intercepted. In retaliation, Indian armed forces struck airfields in Pakistan before a ceasefire was announced on May 10.
Policy Implications and National Sovereignty
The Jaishankar Pakistan bad neighbour statement carries significant policy implications for India’s approach to national security and regional relations. By asserting that India will determine its own response to terrorism without external direction, the minister reinforced India’s sovereign right to protect its citizens.
The statement also signals to the international community that India expects support—or at minimum, non-interference—in its efforts to combat cross-border terrorism. The Jaishankar Pakistan bad neighbour position emphasizes that countries cannot simultaneously sponsor terrorism and expect normal bilateral relations.
Strategic Message to Students
Delivering the Jaishankar Pakistan bad neighbour statement at IIT Madras allowed the minister to communicate India’s strategic thinking to the next generation of leaders, scientists, and policymakers. The frank discussion about national security challenges and India’s response options helps prepare young Indians to understand complex geopolitical realities.
The Jaishankar Pakistan bad neighbour remarks demonstrate how India articulates its security concerns while maintaining diplomatic language that emphasizes defensive rather than aggressive intentions, positioning the country as responding to threats rather than initiating conflict.
