On Friday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar offered a candid assessment of India’s relationship with Pakistan during the launch of ambassador Rajiv Sikri’s book, Strategic Conundrums: Reshaping India’s Foreign Policy. Jaishankar declared that the era of uninterrupted dialogue with Pakistan has ended, emphasizing that “actions have consequences.”

“I believe the time for continuous dialogue with Pakistan has passed. Regarding Jammu and Kashmir, Article 370 is no longer a point of discussion. The question now is what kind of relationship we might envision with Pakistan. Rajiv Sikri suggests in his book that India may be content with the current state of relations, and that could be the case. We are not passive; our response will depend on how events unfold, whether positively or negatively,” Jaishankar said, as reported by ANI.

Addressing India’s ties with Afghanistan, Jaishankar noted the strong people-to-people connections and goodwill at a societal level. However, he emphasized that statecraft must be guided by practical interests rather than outdated perspectives. “The presence of American forces has significantly influenced our approach to Afghanistan. The situation with American forces in Afghanistan is very different from the scenario without them,” he stated.

Turning to relations with Bangladesh, Jaishankar highlighted the importance of finding mutual interests despite political changes. “Since Bangladesh’s independence, our relationship has fluctuated. We must work with the government in power while seeking common ground to manage these political dynamics,” he explained.

Regarding Myanmar, Jaishankar described the country as both relevant and remote, with the northeastern context being crucial. “In the case of Myanmar, especially in relation to the Northeast, we must balance our approach between the government and various stakeholders, acknowledging the complexities of the situation,” he concluded.