India and Pakistan will… : India’s External Affairs Minister gives a BIG statement on future of Ind vs Pak bilateral series

India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in a recent media interaction had some strong words on India’s cricketing ties with Pakistan. Jaishankar spoke about Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism which is the major reason for no cricketing ties between the neighbouring nations for over a decade. Earlier, the BCCI had also supported this stance by stating that India will not participate in the upcoming Asia Cup 2023 hosted by Pakistan. This statement created a larger conflict between the BCCI and PCB.

In the press conference, India’s External Affairs Minister reinstated the country’s stance on the issue. He then stated the importance of India’s protection against a country which has openly supported cross-border terrorism against its neighbours. Jaishankar also deemed the situation as unique and hence this rigid stance is even more crucial. 

“Tournaments keep coming and you are aware of the government’s stand. Let’s see what happens. It is a complicated issue. Will you talk to me if I put a gun on your head? If your neighbour aids terrorism out in the open and there is no mystery about who the leaders are, where the camps are. We should never think that cross-border terrorism is normal. Give me another example where one neighbour is sponsoring terrorism against another. There is no such example. In a way, this is not even abnormal, but exceptional,” Aaj Tak quoted EAM S Jaishankar as saying.

Jaishankar further talked about how India will never accept a country which has been sponsoring terrorism. He rather wants other countries in the world to put pressure on Pakistan and its authorities and help the victims of their crimes to voice their problems. 

“You know our stand on cricket. We should never accept that a country has the right to sponsor terror. Unless we don’t delegitimize this, it will continue. So, there should be global pressure on Pakistan. The pressure won’t come unless the victims of terror don’t voice themselves. India should, in a way, lead the way because our blood is spilled,” said EAM S Jaishankar.