EAM S Jaishankar distinguishes between good and bad neighbours

Chennai: External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Friday said 'bad neighbours' cannot ask India to share its resources while continuing to spread terrorism in the country. He elaborated on this distinction by adding that India has supported 'good neighbours' in tough times. "Most of our neighbours recognise that if India grows, they grow with us,"he said during a fireside chat at IIT Madras here.

"When it comes to bad neighbours who persist with terrorism, India has every right to defend its people and will do whatever is necessary. You cannot request us to share our water with you and also spread terrorism in our country."

He said with good neighbours, India invests, helps and shares - whether it was vaccines during Covid 19, fuel and food support during the Ukraine conflict or the $4 billion assistance to Sri Lanka during its financial crisis.


"What we try to do in Indian foreign policy and diplomacy today is solve that problem. We try to do that partly using our competitiveness and strengths and leveraging other institutions and possibilities."

"When we say 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', the term is we have never considered the world as an inimical or hostile place from which we have to defensively protect ourselves. We have limitations on our resources. With limited resources, how do you have maximum impact? That is actually the problem that has to be solved."