NO FLAG CAN SANCTIFY TERROR: JAISHANKAR DEMANDS GLOBAL ZERO TOLERANCE AS WARS TEST THE WORLD ORDER
October 25, 2026
NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has issued a strong warning against the use of terrorism as an instrument of statecraft, declaring that it can neither be justified nor rationalised. Speaking at an event marking the 75th anniversary of the Chinmaya Mission, he called for stronger international resolve against terrorism and urged the United Nations to demonstrate leadership amid mounting global crises.
Jaishankar argued that terrorism continues to threaten international peace because some states fail to demonstrate zero tolerance towards the menace, allowing political calculations to take precedence over the lessons of history. Although he did not name any country in his remarks, his message placed responsibility on the international community to confront terrorism consistently, regardless of the political interests involved.
The minister stressed that the world must develop a sharper awareness of terrorism as a shared threat and work collectively to counter it in all its forms and manifestations. His remarks reinforced the principle that political objectives cannot provide legitimate justification for terrorist violence. Addressing the threat, he suggested, requires more than statements of condemnation; it demands sustained international cooperation and a willingness to resist the temptation to treat terrorism differently according to strategic convenience.
Jaishankar’s warning came against the backdrop of continuing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia. Emphasising the interconnected nature of international security, he said that war anywhere threatens peace everywhere. In an increasingly globalised world, the consequences of armed conflict extend well beyond the territories where fighting takes place, affecting distant societies, economies and populations that have little influence over the decisions that produced the violence.
He reiterated India’s position that dialogue and diplomacy remain the way forward in resolving international conflicts. The emphasis on diplomatic engagement reflects the difficulty of achieving lasting stability through military confrontation alone, particularly when regional conflicts threaten to expand and draw in additional actors. Preventing further escalation, he indicated, must remain a shared international responsibility.
The minister also called upon the United Nations to exercise leadership rather than remain a spectator to global crises. His remarks renewed the argument for reformed multilateralism, with international institutions expected to respond more effectively to contemporary security and economic challenges. The call reflects wider concerns about whether existing global arrangements can adequately address conflicts, terrorism and the growing pressures facing developing countries.
Turning to the economic challenges confronting the Global South, Jaishankar described a “4F crisis” involving finance, fuel, food and fertiliser. These interconnected pressures can place developing economies under considerable strain, particularly when conflict, supply-chain disruptions and restrictions on trade make essential resources more difficult or expensive to obtain. He argued that developed countries also have a stake in addressing these challenges and called for urgent steps to reduce risks in the international economy and provide nations with more diversified options.
Jaishankar also warned that market distortions created by restrictions and strategic choke points add to economic suffering. He called for genuine dialogue to address these problems, underscoring the need for a more predictable international economic environment. His remarks linked security and prosperity, presenting both as interdependent conditions for sustainable global development.
Artificial intelligence was another major subject in his address. Jaishankar acknowledged the technology’s transformative potential but cautioned against leaving its development and impact in the hands of a small number of powerful actors. He advocated a responsible, inclusive and human-centric approach to AI, arguing that a technology capable of reshaping societies should be developed and governed with wider public interests in mind.
Taken together, the minister’s remarks presented a broad argument for international cooperation in an era of conflict, technological transformation and economic uncertainty. His condemnation of terrorism, appeal for diplomatic solutions and demand for stronger multilateral leadership were connected by a common concern: global challenges cannot be resolved sustainably when political calculations repeatedly override collective responsibilities.
The central message was unequivocal. Terrorism must not be legitimised as a tool of state policy, international conflicts require serious diplomatic engagement, and global institutions must do more than observe crises as they unfold. Whether these principles translate into effective international action will depend on the willingness of states to apply them consistently, including when doing so conflicts with their immediate political or strategic interests.
