India cannot help Pakistan - assures Foreign Minister S Jaishankar -

Pune: India provided huge assistance to Turkey and Syria, shaken by the terrible earthquake and Sri Lanka, suffering from an economic crisis. But some people wonder why India does not help Pakistan, which faces a shortage of food grains, fuel and medicines. The common people of Pakistan expect India to help them. In such a situation, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar has clarified that India cannot help Pakistan. External Affairs Minister Jaishankar questioned how India could help a country where terrorism is its basic industry.

Speaking at an event organised in Pune, Jaishankar clearly stated India’s position regarding Pakistan. Over the past few months, it has become clear that the government of Pakistan was looking for assistance from India, not directly but indirectly. However, at present, the process of dialogue at the diplomatic level between the two countries is completely closed, and Pakistan is also aware that no assistance can be expected from India unless this process is started. Hence, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif proposed a discussion with India a few days ago, saying that Pakistan had learned the right lesson from the three wars with India. He had to withdraw this proposal after getting a strong reaction from Pakistan. But then, the former Pakistan Army chief also made a significant statement regarding talks with India.

Major General Athar Abbas, a former officer of the Pakistan Army, suggested that Pakistan can hold talks with India going outside the perimeters of military and security. The current situation in Pakistan has become dire, and there are no funds left in the coffers of this country even to buy the essentials. The people of Pakistan have been feeling a shortage of food grains, vegetables, fruits and things like fuel and medicines. The angry citizens have been expressing their dissatisfaction by taking to the streets. Even India-hating journalists and intellectuals in Pakistan have realised that solely India can get us out of this crisis. The statements made by them testify to this.

Some in Pakistan have started openly saying that we need leadership like India, and also have been giving an example of the spectacular progress that India has made in the last few years. In such a situation, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar clarified India’s role. External Affairs Minister Jaishankar questioned how India could help the country where terrorism is seen as an industry. Not only this, but before fixing the country’s economic issues, it should be able to settle its political and social problems properly; saying this, Jaishankar pointed out the fundamental defects in the social structure of Pakistan.

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar made it clear that the world can provide only assistance to Pakistan, but Pakistan has to make reforms in its own country, and for that, it has to make tough choices and choose the right things. India also had to face such challenges from time to time in modern history. Even India faced a financial crisis 30 years ago. But India took the right decision at the right time, Jaishankar reminded. Through this, he signals that Pakistan is not ready to take such decisions, and therefore it is difficult for this country to come out of the crisis.

Would go to any extent to defend its national security – says External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar has said that India’s image has been established worldwide as a country that is ready to go to any extent to defend its national security. Jaishankar noted these aggressive changes in India’s foreign and security policy, saying that no one can push India back and India will not allow crossing the limits drawn by it.

There were challenges for the country’s security on the northern border. But India faced it very effectively; by saying that, Jaishankar signalled who exactly he was talking about. In 2016 and 2019, the north border challenged the country’s security. But India faced it competently, Jaishankar reminded.

After the clashes with the Chinese Army in Doklam and Galwan, the capabilities of the Indian Army have sharply emerged globally. At that time, it was revealed to the world that India could clash with a powerful country like China regarding its security. There had been global repercussions. The EM’s statements had vaguely hinted at it.

Meanwhile, India consistently claims that the tensions between India and China over the LAC have not been resolved. India’s imports from China have increased significantly despite the border tension. Jaishankar has said that the Indian industries have also contributed to this import, and at least to some extent, the Indian industries should also be blamed.

Jaishankar criticised that instead of developing its supply chain, the Indian industry continued to import from China, and India suffered a huge blow. The policy adopted in earlier times stated that the country should focus more on the service sector, and the manufacturing industry could be ignored. Jaishankar claimed it hit India strategically, and today’s India has to bear the consequences.

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