External affairs minister S Jaishankar, speaking at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit (HTLS) 2025 in New Delhi, offered a characteristically direct assessment of Pakistan’s military establishment, India’s diplomatic posture, and New Delhi’s approach to key global relationships, including Russia and the United States. His extensive comments—measured, firm, and consistent with India’s long-standing strategic worldview—shed light on how the government perceives ongoing regional challenges and how it navigates the increasingly complex international landscape.

At the heart of the discussion was a pointed remark about Pakistan’s current chief of defence forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir. Jaishankar quipped that just as some commentators draw distinctions between “good terrorists” and “bad terrorists,” it is possible to draw a similar distinction between “good military leaders” and “not-so-good ones.” The analogy was sharp, deliberate, and layered: while ostensibly humorous, it underscored New Delhi’s belief that the Pakistani Army—regardless of the individual occupying its top post—remains the central source of instability in the India-Pakistan relationship.

A consistent reality: Pakistan’s military as the core challenge

Jaishankar made clear that India’s understanding of Pakistan has remained stable across decades. “For India, the reality of the Pakistani Army has always been… much of our problems emanate from there,” he said. By framing Pakistan’s political and security crises as rooted in its military establishment, Jaishankar reinforced what Indian policymakers have often maintained privately and publicly—that the army’s dominance, not civilian government shifts, shapes Pakistan’s external posture and internal incoherence.

He emphasized that India refuses to “hyphenate” itself with Pakistan, a mindset that he argued belongs firmly in the past. When asked whether India may be placing Pakistan in a diplomatically difficult position or whether India’s actions have boxed Islamabad into a corner, Jaishankar dismissed the premise. Instead, he urged observers to examine Pakistan’s current condition in terms of comparative capability, economic performance, institutional credibility, and global reputation. These, he implied, speak loudest.

“We should not get over-obsessed,” he said, asserting that India views itself through a broader global lens, while Pakistan continues to grapple with internal instability and a shrinking international standing. India, he reiterated, deals with issues as they arise—firmly, pragmatically, and with clarity.

Operation Sindoor and India’s adherence to norms

In response to a question about Operation Sindoor—an operation that had generated discussions about whether certain decisions might have been handled differently—Jaishankar offered a principled explanation of India’s strategic conduct. Although he avoided operational specifics, he reiterated that India’s actions are shaped by the standards it sets for itself.

“There are things we do and there are things we don’t. That’s why we are India,” he said, underscoring that the country’s foreign and security decisions are governed by norms, rules, and democratic accountability. India, he stressed, is answerable to its people, its media, and its civil society. This sense of restraint and responsibility, according to him, is a strength, not a constraint.

His comment was a subtle reminder that India’s international credibility derives from predictability, transparency, and adherence to lawful behaviour, even when dealing with hostile or volatile adversaries.

Putin’s India visit: Maintaining strong ties with major powers

Another major theme of the conversation was Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Delhi. Jaishankar highlighted the importance of ensuring that India’s strongest partnerships remain stable and constructive. For a country of India’s scale—geographically, economically, and strategically—robust relations with major global players are not simply desirable, he said, but necessary.

“For a country like us… big country, rising, and expected to occupy a more important place… it is important our key relationships are in a good place,” Jaishankar said. His framing reflects India’s belief in “multi-alignment,” a policy approach that rejects rigid blocs or binary alliances in favour of flexible, interest-based cooperation across geopolitical divides.

Putin’s visit, he suggested, must be viewed through this lens. India has deep defence, energy, and technology ties with Russia, and maintaining them contributes to India’s strategic autonomy. That autonomy, he argued, is the essence of what foreign policy must be.

No contradiction between ties with Russia and the United States

Jaishankar was asked whether Putin’s trip could complicate India’s ongoing negotiations with Washington, particularly on trade and technology. He flatly rejected the idea. “I disagree,” he said, noting that India’s relationships with major global powers are not exclusive or dependent on one another.

“Everybody knows that India has relations with all the major countries of the world,” he added. It would be unreasonable, he argued, for any single nation to expect a de facto veto on how India conducts its external affairs.

“Remember, the others can expect the same,” he said, stressing that India has consistently communicated its position on strategic independence to all its partners. More importantly, he added, this approach is well understood globally and is increasingly respected as India grows in economic weight and geopolitical significance.

Balancing interests while asserting independence

Jaishankar’s remarks offered a window into the philosophical foundation of India’s foreign policy. The country seeks wide engagement while retaining full freedom of action. It diversifies its partnerships—whether with the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, or the Global South—without compromising on national interests or bowing to external pressure.

His statement that India has “multiple relationships” and exercises “freedom of choice” is central to understanding India’s steady refusal to be part of exclusive alignments, especially at a time when global politics is increasingly polarized.

The overarching message: strategic clarity and national confidence

Across topics—from Pakistan and terrorism to Russia and the U.S.—Jaishankar’s messaging remained consistent: India knows what it stands for. It acts from a position of confidence grounded in democratic accountability, institutional strength, and an expanding international profile.

His comments served as both reassurance and assertion: reassurance to the domestic audience that India’s foreign policy remains stable and coherent, and assertion to the global audience that India’s choices are its own—deliberate, independent, and calibrated.

In essence, Jaishankar’s appearance at HTLS 2025 reflected a worldview rooted in realism, strategic maturity, and unwavering commitment to India’s national interest.