S Jaishankar on Cross-Border Terrorism: 'Answers Can't Follow Set Rules

S Jaishankar on Cross-Border Terrorism: S Jaishankar, India's external affairs minister, said on Friday that there can be no rules to deal with cross-border terrorism.

As ANI reported, Jaishankar's statement comes as The Guardian reported that India's external intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), neutralized terrorists deep inside Pakistan.

The EAM referred to the Mumbai attack during the UPA government's tenure in Majharashtra's Pune when interacting with youths. Following the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, everyone was of the opinion to respond to Pakistan, but the UPA government conducted numerous discussions and eventually concluded that “attacking Pakistan will cost more than not attacking it.”

According to ANI, Jaishankar said, "If something like Mumbai happens, how can you prevent the next one?".

"They (terrorists) should not think; we are this side of the line, so no one could attack us. Terrorists do not play by any rules. The answer to terrorists cannot have any rules," he added.

Check Out: PM Modi Criticizes Opposition 'Constitution' Remark: 'Even Ambedkar Can't...'

The way the country deals with terrorism has changed since 2014, Jaishankar said. "There is 50 percent continuity and 50 percent change. That one change is on terrorism," he explained.

Asked which country would be the most challenging to maintain relationships with, Jaishankar replied,“There are countries with whom you can ask would we maintain relationships... Today the biggest challenge is Pakistan... Narendra Modi came only in 2014, but this problem did not begin in 2014. It started in 1947... In no situation is terrorism acceptable, or if any nation uses terrorism to try and bring you to the negotiating table, then it shouldn't be accepted.”

In Pune, EAM S Jaishankar launched the Marathi translation of his book 'Why Bharat Matters'.

Check Out: BJP Annamalai Pledges IIM, NIA, NCB Units For Coimbatore In Lok Sabha Poll