Why India Says Nuclear Brinkmanship Is a Distraction from the Real Threat – State-Sponsored Terrorism
In the aftermath of the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent India-Pakistan military standoff, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has strongly rejected the global media’s obsession with nuclear escalation in South Asia. Contrary to Western portrayals of India and Pakistan being constantly on the nuclear brink, Jaishankar insisted that both nations remain “very, very far away” from any nuclear confrontation—even during serious border clashes.
#FPWorld: S. Jaishankar has dismissed the Western narrative that constantly links Indo-Pak tensions to an imminent nuclear threat, saying that India and Pakistan remain “very, very far away” from any nuclear confrontation despite recent border clashes.https://t.co/gNTltlNugT
— Firstpost (@firstpost) May 26, 2025
Instead, Jaishankar shifted the global conversation to what he views as the true and ongoing threat: state-sponsored terrorism emanating from Pakistan. His remarks serve as a pointed critique of international narratives that, in his view, legitimize Pakistan’s strategy while misrepresenting India’s restrained and responsible security posture.
Nuclear War Talk? “At No Point Was It Considered”
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar firmly dismissed the global narrative that India and Pakistan were on the verge of a nuclear conflict during the 2025 Pahalgam crisis. In his statement, Jaishankar clarified that “at no point was a nuclear level reached” and that India’s actions stayed strictly within the conventional military domain. He reiterated India’s long-standing No First Use (NFU) policy and emphasized that nuclear weapons are solely for deterrence, not warfighting. This directly contradicted the Western media’s portrayal of the crisis, which often leaned toward fears of immediate nuclear escalation.
EAM Dr S Jaishankar's interview with German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) May 26, 2025
"India disable Pakistani air defense systems; At no point was a nuclear level reached"https://t.co/63SFo2VKs5
Jaishankar criticized what he called the “obsessive focus” on nuclear brinkmanship by international analysts and commentators, stating it distracts from the actual threat—cross-border terrorism sponsored by Pakistan. He warned that such misplaced narratives not only create unnecessary global anxiety, but also serve to legitimize Pakistan’s strategy of using terrorism as a state tool while undermining India’s measured and responsible response. According to Jaishankar, the world should be less concerned with imagined nuclear scenarios and more focused on addressing the real and ongoing danger of terrorism in South Asia.
Terrorism, Not Missiles – The Real Threat Is Pakistan’s Support for Extremists
Shifting focus, Jaishankar highlighted Pakistan’s open support for terrorist organizations, stating that many such groups operate openly in Pakistani cities and towns. The 2025 Pahalgam attack, which killed 25 civilians, was cited as yet another example of state-enabled terrorism.
He further stressed that Pakistan-based groups routinely appear on UN Security Council terror lists, making it impossible for the global community to feign ignorance. India, meanwhile, has launched targeted counterterror operations against these groups—grounded in legal and strategic legitimacy.
India’s official position, as outlined by Jaishankar, is clear: Stop sensationalizing nuclear war risks. Start holding Pakistan accountable for terrorism. India is positioning itself as a mature, responsible regional power that resists nuclear escalation and instead tackles the root cause of instability in South Asia—terrorism supported by the Pakistani state.
