External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said countries that “deliberately, persistently and unrepentantly” sponsor terrorism cannot expect the benefits of good neighbourly relations. However, he also underlined New Delhi’s willingness to work constructively with neighbours that demonstrate cooperation and restraint.
“If a country decides they will deliberately, persistently, and unrepentantly continue with terrorism, we have a right to defend our people,” he said, adding, “We will exercise that right. How we exercise that right is up to us. Nobody can tell us what we should do or not. We will do whatever we have to do to defend ourselves.”
Jaishankar said that the idea of neighbourliness must be reciprocal. “You can’t say, ‘I will continue terrorism, but I will also expect you to share water,’” he said, referring to long-standing bilateral arrangements. “That’s not reconcilable.”
He said India’s experience had shown that gestures of goodwill were not always reciprocated. “The belief was that goodwill would be met with goodwill,” he said. “But if there is no good neighbourliness, then the benefits of that cannot be expected.”
At the same time, the External Affairs Minister sought to draw a contrast with India’s broader regional engagement, particularly with countries that have responded positively to cooperation. Referring to Bangladesh, which is approaching national elections, he said India hoped that “once things settle down, the sense of neighbourliness in this region will grow.”
He pointed to India’s assistance to Sri Lanka during its economic crisis and to neighbouring countries during the Covid-19 pandemic as examples of what he described as responsible regional conduct. “When countries were hit by shortages of fuel or fertiliser, or when vaccines were needed, India stepped up,” he said.
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Jaishankar was speaking at the launch of the IIT Madras Global Research Foundation, an initiative aimed at expanding the institute’s international footprint. The event also marked the inauguration of the IIT Madras Open House and its annual technical and cultural festivals, ‘Shaastra’ and ‘Saarang’.
During the discussion, he framed India’s foreign policy as an extension of its civilisational continuity. “India is one of the very few ancient civilisations that has survived, adapted and evolved into a modern nation-state,” he said. “That gives us a sense of continuity that many other countries do not have.”
He added that India’s approach to the world had never been one of isolation or suspicion. “When we say ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,’ it is not rhetoric,” he said.
“We have never seen the world as a hostile place from which we must protect ourselves. But we also recognise that our resources are finite, and we have to use them smartly,” he said.
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Jaishankar argued that India’s foreign policy today seeks to combine strategic autonomy with global engagement. “Countries grow by strengthening themselves at home and then engaging abroad,” he said. “Our task is to use our capabilities and partnerships to create impact.”
As an example, he cited the establishment of an IIT Madras campus in Tanzania, calling it a model of how Indian institutions can project expertise abroad while building long-term partnerships. “That is a way of leveraging what we do well and contributing to other societies,” he said.
He also addressed concerns about how India is perceived internationally, saying that clear communication was essential. “If you communicate clearly and honestly, people understand you. Many countries take pride in their culture and heritage. There is no reason why India should not,” he said.
The IIT Madras Global Research Foundation, launched at the event, aims to expand the institute’s international footprint through academic, research and innovation partnerships. According to V Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, the initiative is designed to operate through four pillars: taking Indian technologies abroad, co-developing projects with global partners, supporting Indian start-ups overseas, and attracting foreign investment into Indian innovation ecosystems.
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He said the foundation had already signed memoranda of understanding with institutions across the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region, including Singapore and Malaysia. Additional collaborations are expected as the initiative expands.
