Source:-‘If Kashmir is core issue for Pakistan, why did it target Mumbai?’
India’s former foreign secretary and ambassador to the US and China S Jaishankar said given China’s growing footprint, India cannot afford to neglect relations in the neighbourhood.
Acknowledging China’s close ties with Pakistan and its significant investments in Sri Lanka, he said among neighbours, Pakistan is the toughest to have a dialogue with. Jaishankar was taking questions after delivering the 24th Lalit Doshi Memorial lecture organised by Lalit Doshi Memorial Foundation at Y B Chavan Auditorium on Friday. The topic of lecture was ‘Doing Foreign Policy Differently’.
Though he dwelt a good deal on Indo-US and Indo-China relations, Jaishankar who is currently president, global corporate affairs at Tata Sons Ltd, also emphasised the importance of other neighbours in shaping India’s foreign policy. “Pakistan is a peculiar neighbour. It claims that Kashmir is the central issue in the relationship …but the manner in which it helps infiltration, supports cross-border terrorism, it becomes clear that Kashmir is not the only core issue,” he added.
“If Kashmir was the only issue Pakistan is mostly concerned about as it claims, why was this city (Mumbai) attacked (on 26/11)?” he said.
Dwelling on China’s rising influence, Jaishankar said China is the world’s second biggest economy and is trying to be the pre-eminent superpower. “China’s power is a fact of life and its strength also lies in its great maritime power and unique connectivity,” he said.
When a member of the audience told Jaishankar he could skip some questions if he wished, he retorted: “I am now a free citizen and I can take all sorts of questions.”
Saying that the world is now flatter, he pointed out that the US is recalibrating its role in global affairs and India now has a stronger alliance with it. He reiterated the need for India’s continuing efforts to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
Source:- TNN
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