While speaking at a panel discussion at ORF(Observer Research Foundation)’s Raisana dialogue, Foreign secretary S Jaishankar remarked that Balochistan and Kulbhushan Yadav were ‘fantasies’ of others while answering a question.
This comes at a time when Pakistan has accused India of perpetrating terror in Balochistan. It has claimed that Kulbhushan Jadhav is a RAW agent. Some media houses in India like Quint have also peddled Pakistani lies.
Cheeky answer to a question on Indian terror and Kulbhushan Yadav
The lady in the audience remarked that Kulbhushan Yadav’s confessions were enough to get a flavour of India’s state sponsored terror. She said that there was little mention of Indian state sponsored terror and there was a need to respect sovereignty of Pakistan. She question Mr Jaishankar as to why he did not mention Kulbhushan Yadav or Balochistan while speaking about terror in the discussion.
While replying to the question S Jaishankar said that his brief was only to stick to facts and not dwell on other’s fantasies. He was hinting at Pakistani claims on Indian terrorism. General Petreaus also remarked that he had never heard of Indian terror from organisations like CIA.
To a question from a young lady from the audience on why he didn’t talk of #Balochistan and #KulbhushanJadhav, S Jaishankar says – my brief was to stick to “facts” and not dwell on others’ fantasies. Touche. #Raisina2018 @raisinadialogue
— GhoseSpot (@SandipGhose) January 18, 2018
Observations on India’s role and other big disruptions happening in the world
Mr Jaishankar also remarked that India is a solution to ensure that the rules based order stays intact. This is in sync with India’s attempts to be a more active and vocal global player under the current NDA government.
Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (@MEAIndia): The transition — how the rules based order is not limited to the Western-led world — has a solution. And the solution is called India. #Raisina2018
— ORF (@orfonline) January 18, 2018
Mr Jaishankar also doubted whether China would be a model to other countries as a global power in future. He felt that Chinese behaviour, as it consolidates its place in the world, would be an ‘open question’. He also predicted four big disruptions that the world would see in near future. According to him, four imminent disruptions include rise of China, behaviour of the USA, terrorism and implication of non-market economics.
The four big disruptions I see: First, rise of China, Second choices, postures, behaviour of USA, Third the challenge of terrorism and fourth one is the rise and implication of Non Market Economics : Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar at #RaisinaDialoguepic.twitter.com/yFYgoY06Jc
— ANI (@ANI) January 18, 2018
Mr Jaishankar was speaking at the session ‘A disruptive world : solutions for tomorrow’. Maurice Gourdault Montagne, General (Retd) David .H. Petreaus were also part of the panel discussion. The session was moderated by Samir Saran. The panel was discussing tectonic and unprecedented challenged that the year 2017 presented to the world.
