Jaishankar Says Lack of Understanding on Terrorism Concerns Could Affect India-US Relations

Yugcharan News / 29-09-2026

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said India-US relations have experienced difficulties over the pace and complexity of trade negotiations, uncertainty surrounding US tariffs and differences over New Delhi’s concerns about terrorism originating from Pakistan. He stressed that insufficient understanding of India’s concerns on terrorism could have an impact on its relationships with partner countries, including the United States.

Jaishankar made the remarks while speaking at an Asia Society event in New York alongside former US diplomat Daniel Russel. His comments came during a period when India and the United States are continuing discussions on a trade agreement while dealing with questions surrounding tariffs and broader differences in their respective approaches to international relations.

The external affairs minister’s comments underline that the India-US relationship is being shaped by several issues at the same time. While trade remains an important area of engagement, Jaishankar indicated that security concerns, particularly terrorism, remain a significant consideration for New Delhi.

Trade Negotiations Remain Complex

Discussing the current state of India-US relations, Jaishankar said the relationship had encountered what he described as “bumps”, with the complexity and pace of trade negotiations being among the principal reasons.

According to him, India’s economic structure makes negotiations particularly complicated because the country has a large number of small producers, agricultural producers and factories. Any trade agreement, therefore, has to take into account a wide range of economic interests rather than focusing only on large industries or major corporations.

Jaishankar said there was now broadly an understanding regarding the trade agreement, but he raised questions about developments on the US side and how changes in American trade policy could affect the negotiations.

“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.

He also referred to changes in the US tariff framework following the striking down of reciprocal tariffs. According to the minister, a new process under Section 301 was still developing, adding another element of uncertainty to the bilateral trade discussions.

Recent reporting has also indicated that India and the US continue to work towards an interim bilateral trade arrangement, with Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal scheduled to engage with his American counterpart during a US visit beginning September 29.

Terrorism a Major Concern for New Delhi

Jaishankar said terrorism remained one of India’s primary concerns, particularly in relation to attacks that New Delhi attributes to Pakistan over several decades.

“For us in India, what is particularly important is the issue of terrorism,” Jaishankar said, describing India as having faced terrorism from a neighbouring country over a long period.

He said the issue was not limited to India’s domestic security concerns but could also influence its relationships with other countries. According to Jaishankar, if a partner does not sufficiently understand or appreciate an issue that India considers deeply important, it can create difficulties in the relationship.

“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.

He added that if one of India’s primary concerns was not fully appreciated by a partner, there would consequently be an impact on the relationship.

Jaishankar’s remarks are consistent with the emphasis India has placed on terrorism during his engagements around the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. During his UNGA address, he said state-sponsored and cross-border terrorism represented a challenge to the international order and called for accountability and action against terror financing.

India-US Relations Amid Wider Strategic Changes

Beyond trade and terrorism, Jaishankar also discussed the broader transformation in India’s relationship with the United States and the changing structure of global diplomacy.

He referred to an earlier perception in Washington that India should limit its international options and place primary emphasis on its relationship with the US. According to Jaishankar, that approach has changed, with countries increasingly maintaining relationships with multiple partners simultaneously.

He described the international system as becoming increasingly multipolar, with major countries pursuing relationships with several powers rather than aligning exclusively with one.

In this context, Jaishankar pointed to the United States’ engagement with China, Russia, Ukraine, Asia and Europe. He said Washington was now pursuing multiple relationships in a manner similar to the approach India had followed.

The remarks reflect India’s stated approach of maintaining strategic flexibility while engaging with multiple major powers. They also come as global geopolitical relationships continue to shift amid conflicts, economic pressures and changes in international trade policy.

Jaishankar’s Recent Remarks on Pakistan at UNGA

Jaishankar’s comments on terrorism came shortly after his remarks at the United Nations General Assembly, where he criticised Pakistan without naming Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directly.

During the UNGA session, Jaishankar accused Pakistan of misrepresenting facts before the assembly and described Islamabad as a “serial practitioner of terrorism”. He also said India’s right to defend itself would be exercised.

Sharif, in his own UNGA address, referred to the four-day military confrontation between India and Pakistan in May 2025 following Operation Sindoor. He said Pakistan had exercised what he described as its inherent right of self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter. He also credited US President Donald Trump with what he described as timely intervention during the confrontation.

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

These competing accounts remain part of the broader diplomatic context surrounding India-Pakistan relations and India’s discussions with international partners.

Diplomacy in the Social Media Era

Jaishankar also spoke about the changing nature of diplomacy and the growing role of public opinion.

He said foreign policy was no longer conducted exclusively through governments, political leaders, ministers and professional diplomats. Social media and public opinion have become increasingly important elements of international engagement, according to the minister.

His comments come as governments increasingly communicate directly with international audiences through digital platforms, while public reactions to diplomatic developments can influence the wider political environment.

For India and the United States, the immediate relationship continues to involve negotiations on trade alongside strategic cooperation and differences over specific policy issues. Jaishankar’s latest remarks indicate that New Delhi’s assessment of bilateral ties extends beyond commercial negotiations, with terrorism and the extent to which India’s security concerns are understood by its partners remaining important factors.

The broader relationship is therefore being shaped simultaneously by economic negotiations, tariff policy, security concerns and the changing international balance of power. Jaishankar’s remarks in New York highlight the importance India attaches to having its core security concerns understood as the two countries continue their engagement.