New Delhi, October 22, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said the world takes note when a country responds firmly to terrorism, warning that failure to act allows other countries to “play games”.
Speaking at the NDTV World Summit 2026, Jaishankar said his decision to take US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to the 26/11 memorial in Mumbai was intended to underline the scale of the attacks against India and the need for a firm response.
“To me, 26/11 (memorial), where I took Secretary Rubio, should serve as a reminder of the enormity of what is being done to us and the necessity for us to respond. And believe me, when you respond, the world will take note of it. When you don’t respond, the world will play games,” he said.
Jaishankar was referring to Rubio’s visit to the memorial at Mumbai’s Taj Mahal Palace Hotel on Tuesday. Rubio laid a wreath in tribute to the victims of the November 26, 2008, terror attacks, in which Pakistani terrorists killed 166 people, including six American citizens.
Reaffirming the shared commitment of the United States and India to combating terrorism, Rubio said in a post on X that he had honoured the victims, remembered those who lost their lives and paid tribute to the courage of those who responded to the attacks.
Contrasting India’s restraint following the 2008 Mumbai attacks with its more decisive actions in recent years, including after the Pahalgam attack last year, Jaishankar said terrorism would no longer be followed by a return to normal relations and talks after a period of pause.
“If terrorism goes on, it will not be business as usual. It is not you’ll take a break and then say, okay, now it’s a long time, let me get back to talking to them again, which is what was the pattern,” he said.
Asked whether the defence pact involving Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan could affect a future operation similar to Operation Sindoor, Jaishankar said “time will tell”.
He added that countries, including India, would ultimately be judged by their actions, while the international community would watch to see which stated positions translated into reality.
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