Vowing to give an appropriate response to Pakistan’s cross-border terrorism, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday that after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office, India’s stance to handle the neighbouring country has changed, unlike previous governments, adding that actions like Uri and Balakot were taken by the Modi government.
“As far as Pakistan is concerned, there is a history of cross-border terrorism. But you also know that till the Modi government came, we were tolerating it. We were turning the other cheek. We were not acting. After Modi ji came, things have changed,” EAM Jaishankar said.
“You saw Uri, Balakot. So we have made it very clear today that any threat of terrorism, cross border terrorism which comes from Pakistan will get the appropriate response from India,” he added.
Addressing the ongoing Israel-Iran tensions in the Middle East, EAM Jaishankar highlighted India has a responsibility to protect 90 lakh citizens living in the Gulf region and work on both the military and diplomatic front to de-escalate the situation.
“In the entire Gulf area and parts of Western Asia, war conditions and tensions prevail… Nearly 90 lakh Indian citizens live in the Gulf region. It is our responsibility to look after them… The rulers of Gulf countries value PM Narendra Modi so much that during COVID, they gave preferential treatment to Indians,” he said.
