Jaishankar: Zero Tolerance for Terrorism, Acts Will Have Consequences
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday declared that there must be “zero tolerance for terrorism” and warned that such acts will have consequences. Speaking at the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial Meeting in Manila, Jaishankar’s remarks came a day after a policeman on Amarnath Yatra duty was shot dead in Anantnag, Kashmir—the first terror attack in the region since the Pahalgam attack last year that killed 26 people, including 25 tourists.
Head Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi, attached with the Special Operations Group of the Indian Reserve Police, was killed near Lalchowk in south Kashmir on Wednesday. Security forces launched a massive crackdown following the attack.
Jaishankar also addressed maritime security, stating that “attacks on maritime shipping and civilian infrastructure are unacceptable, and commerce through international waterways should remain safe and unimpeded.” His comments come amid recent attacks on ships in the context of the US-Israel and Iran conflict, and Russian strikes on a vessel near Ukraine that killed Indian sailors.
The minister flagged China’s “assertive” behaviour in the Indo-Pacific and its territorial claims in the South China Sea. He called for a substantive, effective, and legally binding Code of Conduct fully compliant with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
On emerging technologies, Jaishankar advocated a “responsible and human-centric approach on AI” and deeper cooperation on cybercrime. He also stressed the need for the international community to guard against those who undermine non-proliferation and disarmament.
Jaishankar highlighted India’s contributions to maritime domain awareness, disaster relief, and rehabilitation efforts, including recent responses to cyclones in Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Jamaica, and earthquakes in Myanmar, Venezuela, and Afghanistan.
On the sidelines of the ASEAN meetings, Jaishankar met with foreign ministers of Oman, the Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Brunei, and the UK, as well as Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
