External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has reaffirmed India’s uncompromising stance on terrorism and nuclear intimidation, making it clear that India will not allow fear of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal to deter necessary countermeasures against cross-border terror.

Speaking to Newsweek at its headquarters in New York, Jaishankar stated that New Delhi would no longer give “free passes” to terrorists or the states backing them. “We will not allow nuclear blackmail to prevent us from responding,” he said.

Rejecting the long-standing global caution around India-Pakistan tensions due to their nuclear capabilities, Jaishankar declared, “We’ve heard this for too long — that both are nuclear countries, so we must hold back. We’re not going to fall for that anymore. If someone attacks us, we will respond decisively.”

He emphasized zero tolerance toward terrorism, adding that such acts are global threats and should not be used as instruments of state policy. He called for international unity in fighting terrorism and warned that it ultimately harms the nations that support it.

Jaishankar referred to recent incidents, including the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, where 26 tourists were killed. He described it as an act of “economic warfare” aimed at destabilizing Kashmir’s tourism sector and provoking communal tensions.

Recalling India’s long struggle with terrorism, including the 2001 Parliament attack and 26/11 Mumbai attacks, he stressed that public sentiment has shifted toward a firm national resolve: “Enough is enough.”

He revealed that terror infrastructure remains active in urban areas of Pakistan, with groups operating openly. India responded to the Pahalgam attack with Operation Sindoor, striking high-value terror targets in Pakistan and PoK.