New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday took a sharp swipe at what he described as Western hypocrisy, recalling international reactions to India’s Operation Sindoor in May 2025. Speaking during an interaction with members of the Indian community in Luxembourg, Jaishankar said many countries far removed from India’s neighbourhood express concern over tensions elsewhere while failing to reflect on the risks and violence within their own regions.
Jaishankar noted that nations often offer advice selectively, driven more by self-interest than genuine concern. He said countries that are constructive and willing to cooperate with India should be engaged positively, while those that behave like Pakistan must be dealt with differently. His remarks underscored India’s belief in responding firmly to cross-border provocations rather than relying on external moral lectures.
Referring specifically to Operation Sindoor, Jaishankar recalled how several countries attempted to advise India on how it should conduct itself. He said New Delhi listened, understood the reality of global politics, and chose to move on. At the same time, he pointed out the irony of such advice, questioning why those expressing anxiety about tensions elsewhere do not examine the levels of violence and risk-taking in their own regions, which often cause concern to the rest of the world.
The minister remarked that this contradiction is simply the nature of international relations, where what countries say does not always align with what they do. In today’s world, he said, nations tend to act primarily when there is a direct benefit to themselves, even as they freely dispense advice to others.
Jaishankar added that his engagement in Luxembourg went beyond political issues and also covered cooperation in business and technology. Later, in a post on X, he said he was pleased to interact with the Indian diaspora and highlighted the growing depth of India–Luxembourg ties across multiple sectors, while appreciating the role played by the Indian community in strengthening bilateral relations.
