S Jaishankar flags ‘political calculations’ behind terrorism after Rubio’s Pakistan remarks
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday called on countries to take a firm stand against terrorism, warning that political considerations continued to come in the way of a stronger global response. He also raised concerns over ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia, saying wars in one part of the world could threaten peace elsewhere.
Speaking at the Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav Global Sammelan in New Delhi on the occasion of United Nations Day, Jaishankar said terrorism could not be justified under any circumstances. His remarks came days after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended Washington’s engagement with Pakistan during his visit to India.
Jaishankar flags political calculations over terrorism
Jaishankar said terrorism remained a serious threat to international peace because some countries did not follow a policy of zero tolerance towards it. “Terrorism is another deadly threat to peace. Its usage as an instrument of statecraft is simply unacceptable. It can never be justified. It can never be rationalised,” he said.
Speaking at the Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav Global Sammelan on #UNDay today @UN @ChinmayaMission https://t.co/S9vPkFDWXf
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 25, 2026
The minister added that some countries continued to let political considerations take priority despite the lessons of history. He did not name any country while making the remarks.
His comments came after Rubio defended the US relationship with Pakistan, saying that continued engagement could give Washington greater influence over Islamabad’s decisions including those concerning terrorism.
In an interview with India Today on Thursday, Rubio said the relationship with Pakistan would not come at the expense of ties with India. He also stressed that the US and India shared concerns over terrorism. The interview took place at Mumbai’s Taj Mahal Palace Hotel which was among the sites targeted during the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
‘War anywhere threatens peace everywhere’
Apart from terrorism, Jaishankar highlighted the impact of ongoing wars on countries and communities far removed from the conflicts. “There are today two major conflicts going on in the world: in Ukraine and in West Asia or the Middle East. Societies and economies, peoples far away, who have little say in the matter, are actually paying the cost,” he said.
He reiterated India’s position that dialogue and diplomacy remained the only way to resolve conflicts. The minister said India was making its own efforts to support peace and was ready to work with other countries towards that goal.
“We cannot remain helpless spectators. India expresses global sentiment when we urge that dialogue and diplomacy are the only solution,” he added.
Jaishankar also linked peace with economic progress, pointing to the world’s dependence on international supply chains, markets and shared resources.
He warned that unequal prosperity, combined with conflict and violence, could lead to continued instability. His remarks underlined India’s call for greater international cooperation to address security threats, resolve conflicts and protect global economic stability.