Jaishankar On US Ties: Lack Of Understanding Of India’s Cross-Border Terror Concerns Can Impact Relations

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said India-US relations had faced “bumps” over the pace and complexity of trade negotiations, tariff uncertainty and differences over India’s concerns about terrorism originating from Pakistan.

Speaking at an Asia Society event in New York alongside former US diplomat Daniel Russel, Jaishankar said India’s economic structure had made trade negotiations more complicated than initially expected. He also said changes in the US tariff framework had added another layer of uncertainty to the talks.

“The relationship has had its bumps, I would say, primarily over the pace and the complexity of the trade negotiations,” Jaishankar said.

He pointed to India’s large base of small producers, agricultural producers and factories, saying that negotiating a trade agreement required addressing a complex set of interests.

“Today, I would say that more or less there is an understanding on the trade agreement. But the question really is what has changed on the US side,” he said.

Jaishankar also referred to changes in the US tariff framework following the striking down of reciprocal tariffs, saying a new process under Section 301 was still unfolding.

Terrorism Remains Key Concern For India

Jaishankar said terrorism remained one of India’s primary concerns, particularly in view of what he described as “decades” of attacks originating from Pakistan.

“For us in India, what is particularly important is the issue of terrorism,” Jaishankar said. He added that India had faced terrorism from a neighbouring country as part of what he described as a deliberate and sustained policy over many decades.

Jaishankar said insufficient understanding or appreciation of India’s concerns over terrorism could also affect its relationships with partner countries.

“If something which matters so deeply to us, there isn’t enough understanding or appreciation or empathy of that, I think that creates a problem too,” he said.

“If one of my primary concerns is not fully appreciated by my partner, then clearly there is an impact of that on the relationship,” he added.

His comments came amid ongoing India-US trade negotiations and differences over tariffs, as well as broader discussions between the two countries on their respective approaches towards major global powers.

Jaishankar On India’s ‘Strategic Autonomy’

Jaishankar also discussed the changing nature of India-US relations and Washington’s engagement with multiple countries.

He said there had previously been a narrative in the US that India should not have “too many options” and should focus primarily on its relationship with Washington.

“Today that pretence has dropped,” Jaishankar said, adding that “everybody is openly dealing with everybody else”.

He said the international system was moving towards greater multipolarity, with countries maintaining relationships with multiple partners simultaneously.

“Pretty much what people used to say about us, Washington is today practising with a great deal of gusto,” Jaishankar said, referring to the US managing its relationships with China, Russia, Ukraine, Asia and Europe.

“So actually, Washington was doing what India had practised,” he added.

Jaishankar’s Remarks On Pakistan At UNGA

Jaishankar’s comments came days after he criticised Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the United Nations General Assembly session in New York.

Without naming Sharif, Jaishankar accused Pakistan of “misrepresenting facts” before the UNGA and described Islamabad as a “serial practitioner of terrorism”.

“Yesterday, a serial practitioner of terrorism misrepresented facts before this assembly. Arguments were invoked to normalise terrorism and claim immunity from its consequences. That will not stand. Our right to defend ourselves will be exercised,” Jaishankar said.

“Friendship and goodwill cannot coexist with terrorism. It is for the perpetrator of terrorism to mend his ways,” he added.

During his UNGA address, Sharif referred to the four-day military confrontation between India and Pakistan in May 2025 following Operation Sindoor. He said Pakistan had exercised its “inherent right of self-defence” under Article 51 of the UN Charter and praised Pakistan’s armed forces. He also credited US President Donald Trump with “timely intervention” during the confrontation.

India has maintained that the May 2025 ceasefire was reached through direct communication between New Delhi and Islamabad and did not involve third-party mediation.

Diplomacy In The Social Media Era

Jaishankar also highlighted the growing role of public opinion in shaping diplomacy in the social media era.

He said foreign policy was no longer driven exclusively by governments, political leaders, ministers or diplomats.

“Foreign policy or diplomacy today is not just something which is conducted by states or leaders or ministers or even by diplomats,” Jaishankar said.