New Delhi: India is willing to go “deep” into Pakistan to hit terrorists if any future attacks occur on its territory, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said Monday in an interview with Politico, during his visit to the Belgian capital of Brussels.
“Our message to them [Pakistan] is that if you continue to do the kind of barbaric acts which they did in April, then there is going to be retribution, and that retribution will be against the terrorist organisations and the terrorist leadership…And we don’t care where they are. If they are deep in Pakistan, we will go deep into Pakistan,” Jaishankar said to Politico.
India’s External Affairs Minister reiterated the same message to the French newspaper Le Figaro, adding that “if terrorists attack India, we will hunt them down, wherever they are, including in Pakistan.”
Jaishankar is currently on a 7-day visit to France, Belgium, and the European Union (EU) till 14 June. His message to European publications over Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terrorist attack has remained clear: India will retaliate to any terrorist attack.
In comments to Politico, Jaishankar highlighted that Islamabad’s “commitment to terrorism” remains a source of tension between the two South Asian neighbours, while reiterating that it was India’s military response that led Pakistan to “sue for peace”.
India has maintained that the understanding to cease firing on land, sea and air was achieved bilaterally during talks between the two director generals of military operations (DGMOs) on 10 May.
The 4-day conflict between India and Pakistan saw tit-for-tat aerial responses. On 7 May, India launched Operation Sindoor—in response to the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that left 26 dead—striking at nine terrorist complexes within Pakistan, including Bahawalpur and Muridke.
Islamabad retaliated with strikes aimed at India’s civilian and military infrastructure across the Western border. Eventually, in the early hours of 10 May, Pakistan launched its own “Operation Bunyan al-Marsoos”, before both sides agreed to stop further military actions from 5 pm on 10 May.
In the back-and-forth, Pakistan claimed a number of Indian fighters had been downed, including the French-made Rafale. While India has not made public its military losses yet, Jaishankar did not deny the loss of Indian Air Force fighters, adding that “appropriate authorities” will communicate the matter when ready. At the end of May, India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan conceded that there were military losses, but pointed out that the military changed its tactics after the early losses.
Strengthening bilateral ties and partnership
In Brussels, Jaishankar met with Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot Monday. The two discussed the deepening of India-Belgium cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, technology, defence and security, pharmaceuticals, clean energy and mobility.
“Welcomed Belgium’s support and solidarity in combating terrorism. Appreciated the strong momentum of our bilateral engagement and the India-EU partnership,” Jaishankar added on the meeting with Prévot in a statement on X.
Pleased to meet DPM & FM @prevotmaxime at the start of my visit to Belgium.
Welcomed Belgium’s support and solidarity in combatting terrorism.
Appreciated the strong momentum of our bilateral engagement and the India – EU partnership.
Also held wide – ranging discussions on… pic.twitter.com/5GQbSROYUX
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 9, 2025
Jaishankar is also set to meet with the EU High Representative and Vice-President Kaja Kallas, along with potentially meeting other members of the College of Commissioners, as negotiations between New Delhi and Brussels over a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) continue.
The Indian External Affairs Minister will also head to France, where meetings with his counterpart Jean- Noël Barrot are expected. Jaishankar will also be participating in the inaugural edition of the Raisina Mediterranean dialogue in the French city of Marseille, which is to be held between 12 June and 13 June.
(Edited by Kartikay Chaturvedi)
Also read: Op Sindoor is the first battle in India’s two-front war. A vicious pawn in a King’s Gambit