India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar has strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, calling it an “act of economic warfare” aimed at sabotaging Kashmir’s booming tourism industry and inciting religious violence. In an exclusive interaction with Newsweek in New York, Jaishankar asserted India’s clear stance: nuclear threats or blackmail from Pakistan would not deter India from responding to cross-border terrorism.
Jaishankar emphasized that the attack was meant to derail peace in the region and damage Kashmir’s economy. “It was also meant to provoke religious violence because people were asked to identify their faith before they were killed,” he noted.
On US-Pakistan-India Ceasefire Talks:
Speaking about the May ceasefire following India’s Operation Sindoor, Jaishankar dismissed US President Donald Trump’s claims that he used trade as leverage to broker peace between India and Pakistan.
“I was in the room when US Vice President JD Vance called Prime Minister Modi on the night of May 9. There was no talk of trade or ceasefire linkage, and PM Modi was unfazed by the threat of Pakistani escalation,” Jaishankar clarified.
He recounted that following a massive assault by Pakistan on May 9, Indian forces responded swiftly. The next day, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed India that “Pakistanis were ready to talk.” That same afternoon, Pakistan’s DGMO Maj Gen Kashif Abdullah reached out to Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, India’s DGMO, requesting a ceasefire.
Jaishankar emphasized India’s decision to retaliate through Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan believed to be operated by The Resistance Front, an affiliate of Lashkar-e-Taiba.
On Trump’s Statement:
Despite India’s official account, Trump claimed in a press conference in The Hague that he pressured both sides using trade leverage:
“I said, ‘Look, if you’re gonna go fighting each other … we’re not doing any trade deal.’”
Jaishankar flatly rejected this version of events:
“Diplomacy and trade are handled separately. Our trade teams are professionals focusing purely on negotiations — on numbers, products, and agreements. There was no linkage between trade talks and the ceasefire.”
Key Takeaways:
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Pahalgam terror attack seen as a targeted strike on Kashmir’s economy and communal harmony.
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India launched Operation Sindoor in retaliation against terrorist bases in Pakistan.
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PM Modi remained resolute despite Pakistani threats, according to Jaishankar.
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Trump’s claims of linking trade deals to peace talks are factually incorrect, Jaishankar confirmed.
This strong diplomatic positioning reflects India’s firm response to cross-border terror and its refusal to be swayed by external pressures, reaffirming its commitment to national security and economic resilience.
