S. Jaishankar Links India's Global Ties to Border Security
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated in New York that border stability and US empathy toward terrorism are critical for normalizing relations with China and the United States.
India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated in New York that security concerns and border stability are the primary drivers of India's diplomatic relationships. Speaking at an Asia Society event, Jaishankar argued that bilateral ties with the United States are being strained by a lack of American empathy regarding cross-border terrorism from Pakistan. He criticized the second administration of Donald Trump for ignoring Pakistan's use of terrorism as a state policy and for developing close ties with Pakistani leadership.
Jaishankar noted that these tensions follow India's Operation Sindoor in May 2025, a retaliatory strike launched after a terror attack in Pahalgam. While Donald Trump has claimed to have halted the conflict between India and Pakistan, India has denied any third-party intervention in the matter.
Regarding China, Jaishankar reported that relations have improved since 2024 and 2025, with the return of visas, flights, and official exchanges as the border stand-off eases. However, he cautioned that this recovery is not a structural change. He maintained that a normal relationship is impossible while tensions persist along the frontier, linking full normalization to the stability of the border following the 2020 Galwan Valley clash.
