Jaishankar Reminds US Of Osama Bin Laden In Abbottabad Amid Closer Ties With Pakistan

At a time when Washington is seen drawing closer to Islamabad, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has cautioned the United States against forgetting its troubled history with Pakistan. Speaking at the ET World Leaders Forum on Saturday, Jaishankar reminded the audience that Osama Bin Laden, one of the world's most wanted terrorists, was discovered in Abbottabad-a Pakistani military town-in 2011.

"They (the US and Pakistan) have a history with each other. And they have a history of overlooking that history," Jaishankar remarked, drawing loud applause.

He stressed that while countries often pursue the "politics of convenience," India does not lose sight of its own strengths in its relationship with the United States. "When you look at the certificates somebody in the military gives, it is the same military that went into Abbottabad and found-you know who-there. Countries do this for tactical reasons or other calculations, but we must not ignore what that means," he said.

Jaishankar underlined that despite observing the US-Pakistan dynamic, India remains confident in the larger structural strengths of its partnership with Washington. "I obviously respond to the situation or the challenge of the day. But I also do so always keeping in mind the bigger picture and the confidence that comes from it. I know what I am about, I know what my strengths are, and I know the importance of my relationship," he said.

Operation Sindoor and Trump's Ceasefire Claim

Responding to US President Donald Trump's assertion that he mediated a ceasefire between India and Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, Jaishankar clarified that the decision to halt hostilities was reached directly between New Delhi and Islamabad.

He acknowledged that the US and several other nations did make phone calls during the conflict, but rejected claims of foreign mediation. "It is a fact that phone calls were made at the time. Calls came from the US and other countries too. This is not a secret. Almost every phone call I had-certainly every American one-is up on my X account," he explained.

Drawing parallels with other international crises, he added: "When Israel-Iran was happening, I called up. When Russia-Ukraine was happening, I called up. In today's interdependent world, countries talk to each other. But that is very different from claiming mediation or suggesting that an outcome negotiated between India and Pakistan was somehow brokered by someone else. It was not. It was negotiated between India and Pakistan."