“India’s Pragmatic Diplomacy: Strategic Realism at UNGA 80”, India Narrative, October 14, 2025
“India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar addressed the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 27, 2025, exemplifying India’s increasingly pragmatic approach to international relations. Rather than any diplomatic grandstanding, his speech reflected what one may call a calculated assessment of India’s strategic interests and the practical realities of contemporary geopolitics. The deliberate use of ‘Bharat’ in his opening, where he stated, “Namaskar from the people of Bharat”, could be looked at as less about cultural assertion and more about signalling New Delhi’s comfort with its own identity in international forums. The EAM’s speech was characterised by three broad elements: the terrorism paradigm as an aspect of offensive diplomacy, the practical philosophy of the three As framework and emphasis on the UN reforms.
First, the most striking element of Jaishankar’s address was his unflinching denunciation of Pakistan as the ‘epicentre of global terrorism’. By pointing out the UN’s own designated lists of terrorists and tracing major international terrorist attacks to “that one country”, India’s stance highlighted a tilt towards offensive accountability, rather than any defensive explanations. Such a frontal assault on Pakistan’s international standing points towards a recalibrated approach of India’s counter-terrorism diplomacy. The reference to Operation Sindoor, India’s retaliatory strikes against terror infrastructure in Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack, demonstrates New Delhi’s willingness to act unilaterally and then justify the rationale of those actions at the global stage, rather than relying solely on diplomatic protests or even international pressure to dissuade Pakistan. The revelation that Islamabad “pleaded directly for cessation” after India’s strikes on multiple Pakistani bases further transforms the narrative from that of a regional skirmish to one of strategic dominance, reassuring Indian citizens as well as demonstrating capability to its international partners.
Second, Jaishankar outlined three guiding principles, the three As: Atmanirbharta or self-reliance, Atmaraksha or securing oneself and Atmavishwas or self-confidence. These concepts reflect practical policy imperatives for New Delhi, rather than mere ideological positions. They acknowledge India’s position as a developing economy that must secure its own interests while simultaneously engaging with the world. Atmanirbharta responds to supply chain vulnerabilities that are exposed by the recent global crisis. Atmaraksha attempts to address immediate security threats that international mechanisms have failed to resolve effectively. Atmavishwas reflects India’s augmenting economic and strategic weight that naturally translates into a more assertive international presence. These should not be considered as mere philosophical terminologies, but as operational guidelines that are derived from India’s experience of the past decade. Moreover, Jaishankar’s emphasis on “freedom of choice” and being the “voice of the Global South” attempts to position India as an active shaper of international order, beyond the status of a neutral observer……”
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