“Things are changing for better when it comes to J-K..”: EAM Jaishankar

In a veiled attack on Pakistan, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said things are changing for the better in Jammu and Kashmir but attempts will be made to disturb it as “there are interested parties, one lives right across.”

Speaking at an interactive session on the Modi government’s foreign policy, Jaishankar mentioned that there would be difficulties with regard to Jammu and Kashmir. He did, nonetheless, advise them to make an effort “to persevere, infuse that sense of confidence, to give that sense of hope, and to ensure there is security.”

When asked about the investment coming from the Middle East in Kashmir and also terror funding, Jaishankar said, “Clearly, things are changing for the better when it comes to Jammu and Kashmir. But, part of what needs to keep developing is actually the economy, the employment opportunities, the whole you know the ecosystem which comes which are much you know vibrant, economy, civil society. Attempts will be made to disturb it because there are interested parties, one lives right across, so we you know, we should not expect that there will not be challenges. There will be and it’s not necessarily limited to the western neighbours, there will be others as well.”

Emphasizing that the government is working to instil a sense of confidence among people and is determined to overcome challenges, he said, “So, there will be challenges but our effort should be to persevere, to infuse that sense of confidence, to give that sense of hope, to ensure there is security and that is what really the government is doing. I mean, we have to also really recognize that men and women of this country make I mean they may be in the military, they may be in the security, they may be in the governance out there, they make sacrifices for all of this to happen. I think this is something we will do, we will continue doing.”

He further state, “We know there will be obstacles but we are very very determined that we will overcome that.”

Taking to his official Twitter handle, Jaishankar stated, “Spoke in Mysuru on foreign policy of Modi Government. Thank the Thinkers Forum for organizing and the residents of the Palace City for attending in such large numbers. Their presence today is a statement that the world matters more to today’s India; that the Modi Government has changed the country and that involved citizens want to make informed choices in the world’s largest democracy.”

During the interactive session on the Foreign Policy of the Modi Government in Mysuru, Jaishankar highlighted India’s response to global geopolitics.

“I think there are moments when it is, as I said, with nice people, you are nice. With difficult people, sometimes it’s necessary to push back. But I would say this because this has been my experience in the last year,” said Jaishankar while taking questions on former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan playing his speeches, lauding India for its independent foreign policy.

While addressing a rally in Lahore in 2022, Imran Khan praised India for its independent foreign policy and played out a video clip of Jaishankar.

“It’s sometimes you’re made to sit and almost hold it saying, how can India do this? How do you take this position? At that stage you ask yourself saying, what do you do? Do you then be conciliatory or do you put your point of view across? And if somebody is being very self-centred, they’re only looking at their interest, their point of view, not by rights. Tell them that there are other points of view and there are other interests, etc,” Jaishankar said.

Speaking on the foreign policy of the Union government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Jaishankar said there are instances in which people must have faith in the government and recognise its commitment to its citizens abroad.

“There are times when the people need to trust the government, need to understand that this is a government which has systems in place, which has a commitment to citizens abroad,” Jaishankar said in Mysuru.