Terror concerns must be understood by partners, Jaishankar says on India-U.S. ties
S. Jaishankar said India's partners must appreciate its cross-border terrorism concerns, noting that a lack of understanding impacts bilateral ties.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has said that terrorism emanating from India's neighbourhood is among the country's foremost concerns, and that a lack of understanding of this among its partners has a bearing on bilateral relationships.
He was speaking at a conversation hosted by the Asia Society with members of the Indian-American and diaspora community and policy experts, as the high-level week of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly concluded. The discussion was moderated by Daniel Russel, a former American diplomat and distinguished fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute.
Asked about the state of India-U.S. relations, particularly in the context of trade and tariff developments over the past year, and what would be needed to place the relationship on a better track, Mr. Jaishankar said much of the world had found its ties with Washington more difficult. He described that as a reality rather than a consolation.
He pointed to the sensitivities of individual countries, noting that for India the issue of terrorism is particularly important. He said very few countries have faced the kind of terrorism India has from a neighbour, describing it as part of a deliberate and conscious policy sustained over many decades.
Mr. Jaishankar said that when a matter of such deep importance to India is not met with sufficient understanding, appreciation or empathy, it creates a problem. If one of a country's primary concerns is not fully appreciated by its partner, there is clearly an impact on the relationship, he said.
The remarks come amid an upswing in Washington's engagement with Islamabad. In May 2025, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, in retaliation for the April 22, 2025, terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 civilians, mostly tourists, were killed. The attack was carried out by The Resistance Front, a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Through 2025, and as recently as his address to the UNGA, U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed he stopped the conflict between India and Pakistan. India has consistently denied any third-party intervention.
In June 2025, after returning from the G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also attended, Mr. Trump hosted Pakistan's Field Marshal Asim Munir for lunch at the White House. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Munir met Mr. Trump again at the White House during the UNGA session in September 2025. Mr. Trump has publicly praised Field Marshal Munir on various occasions.
Mr. Jaishankar said India would hope for and expect the relationship to move on an upward trajectory, while adding that he had to be realistic about the issues the two sides confront. To the extent that progress is made on some of these issues, the relationship will be better, he said.