Jaishankar’s Chilling Remark on SAARC Recalled Amid Tragedy in Kashmir

Less than three months ago, Nepal’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, raised a serious concern in a session of the International Relations and Tourism Committee of the House of Representatives. She recounted a tense exchange with her Indian counterpart, Dr. S. Jaishankar, during a visit to India last September.

Speaking about efforts to revive the SAARC summit, Deuba said, “I urged for a meeting of the heads of state. But Jaishankarji asked me, ‘If people had come to your country and killed your citizens, would you still hold a meeting?’” She admitted she was left speechless by his response. The conversation took place on Bhadra 3 during her official visit, and she later revealed it in a committee meeting on Push 29.

Today, Nepal finds itself grasping the brutal reality behind Jaishankar’s words.

The recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir has claimed the life of Sudip Neupane, a young Nepali student of public health from Dharan. Sudip had been visiting the scenic Baisaran grasslands near Pahalgam with his mother, sister, and brother-in-law when gunmen struck. According to his uncle, Dadhiram Neupane—ward chairman of Butwal-14—the assailants first asked Sudip his name and religion before opening fire. His family survived the attack, but Sudip, the only son of the family, was killed on the spot.

This was not an indiscriminate act of violence. Eyewitnesses and survivors recount that the terrorists asked victims to recite Islamic verses; those who failed were executed. One survivor, Asawari, tearfully shared how her husband missed a verse and was shot in the head. The calculated nature of the assault left no doubt that victims were selected based on their religion.

Analysts describe this as a targeted attack on Hindus, driven by an extremist ideology rather than political grievance. Sudip’s murder echoes the grim trend of Nepalis becoming victims of religious extremism abroad—in places like Afghanistan and Iraq.

This massacre comes at a time when India is investing heavily in the development of Kashmir and following provocative remarks from Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir. Referring to Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein,” Munir invoked the two-nation theory and emphasized religious separation—a narrative critics say emboldens terrorist groups.

The Pahalgam attack is seen not only as a threat to Indian national security but as a regional crisis. It starkly deviates from traditional patterns of militancy in Kashmir, which historically focused on military and political targets. Instead, this was a direct assault on civilians—tourists, families, women, and children.

At least 26 people were killed and nearly 20 injured when members of the Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy, opened fire. This marks one of the deadliest civilian-targeted attacks since the 2019 Pulwama bombing.

Terror attacks in India have often coincided with high-profile international visits. The 2000 Chittisinghpura massacre occurred just days before President Bill Clinton’s trip to India. Similarly, the 2008 Mumbai attacks coincided with a rise in tourism and a visit by then-U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance. These patterns suggest a strategic effort to undermine India’s image and stability during crucial diplomatic windows.

Survivors of the Pahalgam attack reported the gunmen shouting, “Go tell Modi this,” signaling a direct challenge to the Indian leadership.

India may consider retaliatory measures against Pakistan following the deadly attack in Kashmir, according to security experts.

“This is an act of war. That’s how we are seeing it,” said Tara Kartha, director at the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), a New Delhi-based think tank, in comments to Al Jazeera. Kartha, a former official at India’s National Security Council Secretariat, linked the timing of the attack to a recent speech by Pakistan’s army chief.

The assault, which claimed the lives of at least 26 civilians in Pahalgam, came just days after General Asim Munir, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, delivered a speech on April 16 reiterating support for the two-nation theory that led to the partition of India in 1947. In the speech, Munir emphasized Pakistan’s “difference from Hindus,” drawing sharp criticism from Indian analysts.

Kartha noted that the tone and timing of the Pahalgam attack aligned with what she described as Munir’s “invective-loaded” remarks. “Only if Pakistan condemns the attack in the strongest terms and pledges concrete action against the perpetrators within the next 48 hours can a serious crisis be averted,” she warned.

The Indian government has not officially commented on potential military or diplomatic responses, but rising public anger and national security concerns suggest tensions may escalate in the coming days.

The Pahalgam massacre is a chilling reminder of the ideological extremism that continues to plague the region. For Nepal, it underscores the painful relevance of Jaishankar’s warning. And for South Asia, it signals a growing threat that transcends borders, religion, and nationality.