Jaishankar warns India-US ties hinge on Washington’s response to cross-border terrorism
NEW YORK, Sept. 30, 2026 — India’s relations with the United States cannot move smoothly forward if Washington fails to fully grasp New Delhi’s concerns
NEW YORK, Sept. 30, 2026 — India’s relations with the United States cannot move smoothly forward if Washington fails to fully grasp New Delhi’s concerns over cross-border terrorism, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has said. His warning lands at a sensitive moment, as India watches a renewed US outreach to Pakistan with unease.
Speaking at an Asia Society event in New York during the final stretch of the 81st UN General Assembly high-level week, Jaishankar said terrorism remains one of India’s most pressing concerns. The audience included Indian-American and diaspora members, along with policy experts.
Security, not just trade
Jaishankar placed security alongside trade as a source of friction in the relationship. He said India has faced terrorism from a neighboring country for decades as part of what he described as a “deliberate, conscious policy.”
“What for us in India is particularly important is the issue of terrorism,” he said, adding that when a matter so central to India’s national security does not receive enough understanding, appreciation or empathy, it creates a problem in the wider relationship.
His remarks drew a clear line: if one of India’s main concerns is not properly recognized by a partner, the partnership itself feels the strain. “If my primary concern is not fully appreciated by my partner, then clearly there is an impact on the relationship,” he said, according to reports of the event.
Backdrop of a complicated phase
The comments come as India-US ties are already navigating tensions over tariffs and trade. They also reflect New Delhi’s sensitivity to any perceived softening in Washington’s stance toward Islamabad.
Jaishankar’s message was direct. India expects its security concerns to be treated as central, not peripheral. And if they are not, the diplomatic cost will show up well beyond the terrorism debate.
The Asia Society conversation, moderated by former US diplomat Daniel Russel, ended with that warning hanging over the room. The next test will be whether Washington’s approach to Pakistan changes the temperature in the relationship — or hardens India’s red line even further.
Source: ndtv.com
