Washington: Former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton has strongly backed India’s right to take self-defensive measures against terrorist threats emanating from Pakistan, in the aftermath of a deadly attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam region that killed 26 people.
In an interview with a private Indian news channel on Monday, Bolton asserted that India is “fully justified” in targeting terrorist infrastructure across the border if Pakistan fails to act. He emphasized that the onus lies on Islamabad to curb extremist activities operating from its soil, cautioning that continued inaction could provoke serious regional consequences.
Bolton also raised concerns about China’s growing military and strategic involvement in Pakistan, particularly highlighting Beijing’s supply of advanced fighter jets as a factor exacerbating regional instability and posing additional security challenges for India.
The remarks come amid heightened tensions following the latest terror strike, adding weight to India’s longstanding stance on cross-border terrorism and its right to respond proportionately.
