India's resolve stronger than 26/11, terror will be punished: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar issued a stern warning to nations backing terrorism, saying that India’s response to threats has evolved significantly since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Speaking at a university convocation in Gujarat, Jaishankar said while 26/11 deserved a forceful retaliation, India today is more resolute and better prepared to respond. Referencing Operation Sindoor, launched after the Pahalgam massacre, he said the days of tolerating terrorism under nuclear blackmail are over.

Jaishankar affirmed that those who “sponsor, nurture and utilise terrorism” will now face severe consequences. He stressed that epicentres of terror, once considered untouchable, are no longer safe. India’s zero-tolerance policy, he said, is not just rhetoric but visible through decisive action, as seen during Operation Sindoor.

On the issue of nuclear threats, Jaishankar said India will never surrender to such blackmail. His remarks come amid repeated nuclear posturing by Pakistani officials during heightened military tensions. Echoing PM Modi’s earlier statement, Jaishankar made it clear that any terror infrastructure operating under nuclear threats will be destroyed.

The minister also criticised the “transactional diplomacy” of certain nations, indirectly pointing at countries like Turkey, which have supported Pakistan militarily. However, he also noted a growing global acknowledgment of India’s right to defend itself. He ended by stating that India’s foreign policy remains principled, values-driven, and rooted in national interest.