'Perpetrators Of Evil Can’t Be Put On A Par With Victims’: Jaishankar To UK Foreign Minister

Last Updated:June 07, 2025, 13:29 IST

Jaishankar thanked the British government for its strong condemnation of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and supporting India's anti-terror stance.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar (Reuters Image)

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar thanked the British government for its strong condemnation of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and for expressing solidarity with India in the fight against terrorism. He said India never wanted perpetrators of terrorism to be put on par with its victims.

Speaking at delegation-level talks with his British counterpart, David Lammy, in Delhi, Jaishankar said India practised a policy of zero tolerance against terrorism and expected partners to understand it. “We will never countenance perpetrators of evil being put at par with their victims," he said.

This came after India’s all-party delegation in London received support from the British government for Operation Sindoor, which was launched by the Indian Armed Forces on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

The delegation, led by BJP’s Ravi Shankar Prasad, reaffirmed India’s united stance and unwavering commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms. The delegation interacted with UK-based think tanks, UK government ministers and India friendship groups during its visit from May 31 to June 3.

During Operation Sindoor, Indian armed forces struck terrorist camps in Pakistan’s Punjab and PoK. Four targets were hit in Punjab, where the headquarters of Jaish and Lashkar are located, while five targets were destroyed in PoK, officials said. As many as 21 terror strikes across nine targets were carried out within 25 minutes late Tuesday night, around 1 am to 1.30 am.

India and Pakistan exchanged four days of cross-border hostilities before agreeing to a ceasefire on May 10. Seven all-party delegations had travelled to various countries, briefing key interlocutors about Operation Sindoor in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s strong resolve to fight terrorism emanating from Pakistan.

Jaishankar on India-UK FTA

Jaishankar also addressed the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), calling it a “milestone", which will propel two-way trade between the countries and have a positive effect on other strategic aspects of bilateral ties.

“It will also contribute to the strengthening of supply and value chains," he said, while also highlighting other avenues of India-UK cooperation.

The historic announcement regarding the conclusion of talks on the free trade agreement (FTA) was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Keir Starmer in May. India and the UK sealed the deal along with a double contribution convention. Modi said the “historic milestone" will catalyse trade, investment, growth and job creation in both economies.

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