External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has sharply questioned what he called Western double standards in responding to conflicts elsewhere, citing reactions during India’s Operation Sindoor in May 2025.
Speaking to members of the Indian community in Luxembourg City on Wednesday, Jaishankar said countries far from South Asia often express anxiety over tensions but show little willingness to examine instability in their own regions. His remarks were delivered in a conversational but pointed tone, underscoring India’s view of how global advice is often shaped by distance and self-interest.
“So those who are willing to work with us and be helpful, positive, we have to deal with them in that way. Those who do the kind of things which Pakistan does, we have to deal with it in a different way,” Jaishankar said.
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Jaishankar said international commentary frequently comes without context or consistency. Countries, he argued, are quick to offer advice when tensions rise elsewhere, even as they overlook the scale of violence and risk closer to home.
“People sitting far away will say things, sometimes with application of mind, sometimes not, sometimes with a self-interest, sometimes carelessly. That will happen,” he said.
In today’s world, he added, nations act primarily when it serves their own interests. Advice is often plentiful; tangible support is not.
“They’ll offer you free advice. If something happens, say, no, please don’t do that. It worries us if there is tension,” he said.
Operation Sindoor and India’s response to criticism
Recalling the period around Operation Sindoor, Jaishankar said India heard many such cautions on how it should conduct itself. New Delhi, he noted, accepted this as part of international reality and moved on.
“Sometimes you hear people say, like it happened during Operation Sindoor. Now, if you ask them, say, oh really you’re worried, why don’t you look at your own region? And ask yourself, what are the levels of violence there, how much risks have been taken, how much worry the rest of us have about what you are doing. But that’s the nature of the world. People, what they say is not what they do. And we have to accept it in that spirit as well,” Jaishankar said.
Beyond geopolitics, Jaishankar said his interactions in Luxembourg also covered political, business and technology cooperation.
In a post on X, he wrote: “Glad to interact with members of Indian community in Luxembourg today. Underlined the significant deepening of our partnership with Luxembourg across political, business and technology domains. Appreciate the contributions of our diaspora in deepening India – Luxembourg ties.”