India’s response to terrorism coming from Pakistan and its conflict with China demonstrate that we will not submit to external pressure: Jaishankar.

India’s counter-response to terrorism “emanating” from Pakistan and to “aggressive” cross-border skirmishes with China, according to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, showed that the country will not be “coerced” by anyone.

The minister said that the Indian Air Force’s airstrikes on Balakot in 2019 in response to the Pulwama terror attack had delivered a “much-needed” message.

On Saturday, Jaishanlar spoke at the 53rd anniversary of the Tamil weekly Thuglak in Chennai and pledged that the nation would take all necessary measures to maintain its security.

“On the northern borders, China is today seeking to change the status quo by bringing in large forces and violating our borders. Despite COVID-19, our counter-response was strong and firm. Our troops deployed in thousands safeguarded our frontiers in extreme terrain and harsh border and (protection of borders) continues to this day,” Jaishankar said, PTI reported.

“The national wellbeing has many facets and national security is without question the basic foundation. All countries are tested in this regard but we perhaps had more than our fair share of problems ranging from insurgency to cross-border terrorism, especially terrorism. The Balakot air strikes sent the much-needed message,” he added.

He continued by saying that India is a country that will not submit to coercion and that it will take all necessary measures to maintain its security.