Jaishankar warns Europe on terrorism, says India will advance US ties based on national interest

Amid reports of growing divergence between India and the Trump camp on key security concerns like Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, external affairs minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday emphasised that India's engagement with the US is driven by national interest, not personalities. Speaking during his visit to Europe, Jaishankar also issued a stern warning to European countries against downplaying terrorism, asserting that the threat will “come back to haunt” them.

“I take the world as I find it. Our aim is to advance every relationship that serves our interests — and the US relationship is of immense importance to us. It’s not about personality X or president Y,” said Jaishankar in an interview to Euractiv when asked whether India trusts Donald Trump.

His comments come amid subtle tensions with the Trump administration-in-waiting over its reported reluctance to take a strong position on Pakistan’s role in cross-border terrorism, particularly after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed several Indian soldiers and triggered a military response.


Jaishankar evoked the memory of Osama bin Laden’s presence in Pakistan to underscore the gravity of the threat. “Why did he, of all people, feel safe living for years in a Pakistani military town, right next to their equivalent of West Point?” he asked. “I want the world to understand — this isn’t merely an India-Pakistan issue. It’s about terrorism. And that very same terrorism will eventually come back to haunt you.”

Blunt on West’s past, China ties and data security

Taking on European countries that have questioned India’s ties with Russia, Jaishankar said those nations must reflect on their own historical actions. “India has the longest-standing grievance — our borders were violated just months after independence, when Pakistan sent in invaders to Kashmir. And the countries that were most supportive of that? Western countries,” he said.

“If those same countries — who were evasive or reticent then — now say ‘let’s have a great conversation about international principles’, I think I’m justified in asking them to reflect on their own past,” the minister added.

On India’s balancing act between economic growth and geopolitical caution, Jaishankar pointed to global trends of “de-risking” from China. Recalling his conversations with European companies in India, he said many firms were actively choosing to diversify away from China.

“Many companies are becoming increasingly careful about where they locate their data — they’d rather place it somewhere secure and trustworthy than simply go for efficiency. Would you really want that in the hands of actors you don’t feel comfortable with?” he said.

(With inputs from ToI)