Desk:India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar strongly criticized European nations for their tendency to lecture India on issues like terrorism and tensions with Pakistan. In an interview with a Dutch news channel, Jaishankar stated that European countries have enjoyed peace and stability since World War II, especially after 1991-92, whereas India has been dealing with ongoing conflict for the past 80 years.
“You have consistently denied the existence of terrorism, while we have faced it head-on for eight decades,” Jaishankar said. “You’re only waking up to certain realities now — realities we have known and lived through for a long time.”
Highlighting India’s unique geopolitical challenges, he added, “We have two difficult neighbors — China and Pakistan. Terrorism from Pakistan has always been a persistent threat for us. We’ve had to deal with this tough world with resolve. But I believe Europe has often chosen to look the other way.”
When asked by the journalist whether resolving tensions with Pakistan and China could lead to rapid development for all three nations, Jaishankar responded bluntly: “You can say that because you’re sitting in Europe.” He emphasized that for India, national security is a far more urgent concern than economic growth or stability.
“Our security challenges are far more complex than those in Europe,” Jaishankar remarked. “That’s why we’ve had to prioritize security above all else. Only now is Europe beginning to grasp this reality, a reality we’ve been living with for the last eight decades.”
He went on to point out that Europe has been fortunate to have enjoyed favorable geopolitical conditions post-WWII, particularly after 1991. “You assumed everything was normal because of your stable environment. That is not our reality,” Jaishankar said. “Europe is only now undergoing a reality check. We’ve been shaped by these harsh realities for generations, and strengthening our security is not a choice — it’s a necessity.”