S Jaishankar: Pakistan's sustained use of terrorism shapes India's foreign policy

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said Pakistan’s continued use of terrorism against India has a direct bearing on how Indians view the relationship, and that public sentiment cannot be ignored while shaping the country’s foreign policy.

Speaking at the ET World Leaders Forum, Jaishankar said India has developed its own relationship with the United States despite Washington’s long-standing ties with Pakistan.

"Well, look. As you know, the U.S.-Pakistan have a long history. Now, to a large extent, we have developed our own relationship with the United States," he said.

Jaishankar said Pakistan's uniqueness, from India's perspective, lies in what he described as its systematic and sustained use of terrorism against a neighbouring country.

"Pakistan is unique not because you know it's a neighbor of India. We have other neighbors. There are other countries who have problems," he said.

"It is unique because in this day and age, there is no other country that uses terrorism so systematically and so in such a sustained manner to attack and pressurize another neighbor, and that has an impact on public opinion in this country."

Jaishankar said the government cannot ignore public sentiment when framing foreign policy.

"I'm a minister of a democratic polity. I cannot be impervious to what is the public opinion of my country?" he said.

"If the public opinion of my country feels that terrorism is an issue on which you know another country does not empathize with us, does not understand our point of view, or worse, then obviously it will happen in time. Then obviously, if there is a public opinion, I have to take it into account by making mistakes,” he added.