Brussels, New Delhi: The European Union (EU) has made its stance clear. It helps India’s proper to defend its folks from terror. The robust message got here after a high-level assembly between EU’s high diplomat Kaja Kallas and Indian Exterior Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar.
The assembly befell on June 10 in Brussels. It was the first-ever EU-India Strategic Dialogue. Terrorism, safety and international threats have been on the high of the agenda.
Kallas strongly condemned the April 22 Pahalgam terror assault in Jammu and Kashmir. “Each nation, together with India, has the suitable and duty to guard its residents from acts of terror,” she mentioned.
Dr. Jaishankar responded, “Terrorism should be met with zero tolerance. It can’t be justified, excused or ignored. We thank the EU for understanding this precept.”
Twenty-six harmless vacationers have been killed within the assault. India responded with Operation Sindoor and focused terror bases inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Whereas Kallas urged continued India-Pakistan talks, Jaishankar was agency. He mentioned talks are solely doable if terrorism ends. “Peace wants honesty. Not denial and double video games,” he mentioned.
The EU and India stood united on counterterrorism. A particular EU-India dialogue on counterterrorism will probably be held later this yr. Either side harassed the urgency to behave collectively.
Kallas welcomed India’s curiosity in a safety and defence partnership. Either side additionally agreed to start talks on a Safety of Info Settlement.
India and the EU additionally agreed to start out a dialogue on house safety. The primary session is ready for late 2025. The main target will probably be satellite tv for pc security, house site visitors and defence collaboration.
Jaishankar and Kallas praised the rising naval cooperation. This consists of higher hyperlinks between EU operations ATALANTA and ASPIDES and the Indian Navy. “We have now constructed belief at sea. Now we deepen that belief in house and cyber,” mentioned Kallas.
India and the EU additionally mentioned Russia’s warfare in Ukraine. Each referred to as for peace and full respect for the UN Constitution. Additionally they talked in regards to the Center East and urged extra humanitarian assist for civilians.
The 2 sides harassed the necessity to preserve the Indo-Pacific open and free and rules-based. India’s Indo-Pacific imaginative and prescient aligns with the EU’s pursuits.
In closing, each leaders reaffirmed their shared values, democracy, rule of legislation, stability and international peace.
Kallas summed it up: “In these harmful instances, India and the EU should work as companions who’re robust, safe and united.”
The message from Brussels is obvious – India is just not alone on this struggle. The EU stands with New Delhi towards terror.