External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday outlined India’s approach towards its neighbours, drawing a distinction between “good neighbours” and those that pose security challenges. Speaking at an event at IIT Madras, Jaishankar said India’s neighbourhood policy is guided by “common sense” and mutual conduct.
His remarks came two days after he visited Bangladesh to attend the funeral of the country’s first female prime minister, Khaleda Zia, where he also handed over a condolence letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to her son and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairperson Tarique Rahman.
Responding to a question on India’s neighbourhood policy amid ongoing violence and protests in Bangladesh, Jaishankar said India naturally chooses cooperation and engagement when neighbouring countries demonstrate goodwill.
India’s Approach to ‘Good Neighbours’
“If you have a neighbour who is good to you, or at least not harmful, your natural instinct is to be kind and to help,” Jaishankar said. “If nothing else, you will say hello, try to build friendships and bonding, and that is what we do as a country.”
He added that whenever there is a spirit of good neighbourliness, India prefers to invest, assist, and share resources. Citing examples, Jaishankar referred to India’s vaccine support during the COVID-19 pandemic, fuel and food assistance amid the Ukraine conflict, and $4 billion in aid to Sri Lanka during its recent financial crisis.
Stand on ‘Bad Neighbours’
Jaishankar also addressed India’s stance towards what he described as “bad neighbours” who continue to support terrorism.
“If a neighbour deliberately, persistently, and unrepentantly continues with terrorism, then India has the right to protect itself,” he said, adding that how India chooses to exercise that right is its sovereign decision.
In an apparent reference to Pakistan and India’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty following the Pahalgam terror attack last year, Jaishankar said agreements based on goodwill cannot continue in the absence of trust.
“Many years ago, we agreed to a water-sharing arrangement as a gesture of goodwill. But if you have decades of terrorism, there is no good neighbourliness,” he said. “You cannot ask for the benefits of cooperation while continuing hostile actions.”
Jaishankar’s remarks underline India’s position that regional cooperation depends on mutual respect, trust, and responsible conduct among neighbouring countries.
