Launching a veiled attack on the former UPA government, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated on Sunday that India did not respond to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, emphasising that this would not be the case if such an incident occurred again.
“We should not have a repeat of what happened in Mumbai. That there was a terror attack and there was no response,” Jaishankar said.
He said when we talk of zero tolerance against terror, it is clear that when somebody does something, there will be a response.
Mumbai is a symbol of counter-terrorism for India and the world, he said.
"There are different views from political parties. When this city (Mumbai) was attacked, nothing was done," he added.
Double standards on terrorism are not acceptable and India will "act where it has to act" to expose terrorism, the EAM said, reflecting on the terror attack.
Jaishankar fielded questions on issues ranging from terrorism to the India-China stand-off and from investment to politics at a press conference held in Mumbai.
Without naming China, the EAM said the disengagement of troops at Depsang and Demchok in Ladakh is the first step, and it is expected that India will return to the 2020 patrolling status.
He, however, stressed the next step of de-escalation won't be taken until India is assured of reciprocity from the other side as well, obviously referring to China.
"We also have to expose. It is not acceptable that you are doing business during daytime and indulging in terror during the night and I have to pretend that everything is okay," he added.
Speaking on Manipur strife, Jaishankar said, "Claims like the rest of the world would have a problem with India because of Manipur are a political agenda and anti-national agenda," the EAM said.
Speaking on Bangladeshi infiltrators, Jaishankar said, "The ease (with which illegal migrants used to enter India) and the number of infiltration has reduced. The Modi government is absolutely clear on what needs to be done to secure borders.”
He said the election in Jammu and Kashmir which saw more than 60 per cent voter turnout is a big statement about democracy.
"India won on that day. It reflects people's faith in the scrapping of Article 370 and the hold of separatist politics was broken," he said, underlining the need for deeper integration of Kashmir with India to counter the cross-border terrorism support.
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