Jaishankar warns Pakistan on terrorism – ‘India has the right to defend itself from bad neighbors’

Chennai, 2 January. Foreign Minister Dr. Jaishankar on Friday warned neighboring Pakistan without naming it and said that India will use the right of self-defense against terrorism and no other country can decide what India will do and what not in its defense. In his address during the inaugural program of ‘Shastra 2026 – IIT Madras Techno-Entertainment Fest’ organized at IIT Madras, he said that whatever needs to be done will be done for the security of India.

‘We also have the right to self-defense against terrorism’

During the program, when Dr. Jaishankar was asked about India’s foreign policy, he said, ‘Your neighbors can also be bad. If we look towards the West, we find that unfortunately this is the case with us too. If a country deliberately and continuously spreads terrorism, then we also have the right to self-defense against terrorism and we will use it, but it is up to us how we use it. No one can tell us what to do or what not to do. We will do whatever we need to do for our safety.

My interaction with students at @iitmadras #Chennai

—Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 2, 2026

‘If you are not a good neighbor you will not get the benefits’

Jaishankar said, ‘Many years ago we agreed on water sharing agreement, but if you spread terrorism for decades then it is not a good neighborly thing and if you are not a good neighbor then you will not get its benefits. You cannot say please share water with us, but we will continue terrorism. This cannot happen.

Pleased to inaugurate the #IITMadras Global Research Foundation, an initiative aimed at strengthening the Institute’s international outreach.

Also witnessed the exchange of MOUs between @iitmadras and leading industry, academic & government partners from multiple countries.

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—Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 2, 2026

Gave a lesson to Bangladesh also

Also mentioning Bangladesh, he said, ‘When we look at our neighboring countries, whatever are our good neighboring countries, we invest there, help those countries. Even during the time of Corona, we were the first to help our neighbors with the vaccine. When Sri Lanka was also surrounded by economic crisis, India helped it and gave it financial assistance of four billion dollars. Most of our neighboring countries believe that India’s development is good for them. If India develops, all our neighbors will also progress with us. This is what I want to say for Bangladesh.