India remains firmly committed to a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism and expects its international partners to recognise this stance, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said Saturday during talks with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy in New Delhi.
The statement came amid India’s concern over perceived attempts by some countries to draw equivalence between India and Pakistan following a recent four-day military standoff.
“We practise a policy of zero tolerance against terrorism and expect our partners to understand it,” Jaishankar said. “We will never countenance perpetrators of evil being put at par with its victims.”
Jaishankar also thanked the UK for condemning the recent “barbaric” terror attack in Pahalgam, located in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and for expressing solidarity with India’s counter-terrorism efforts.
Lammy is on a two-day visit to India to review and deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries. His trip follows a visit to Islamabad on 16 May, during which he welcomed a ceasefire agreement reached between India and Pakistan on 10 May.
Indian officials reportedly raised concerns during the meeting regarding cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. Last month, the UK had engaged with both South Asian neighbours to promote de-escalation during the period of heightened military tensions.
Jaishankar also highlighted key developments in bilateral ties, calling the recent India-UK Free Trade Agreement and the Double Taxation Avoidance Convention significant milestones in the growing relationship between the two nations.
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