Will look at local public sentiment before taking call on helping crisis-hit Pakistan: Jaishankar

NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said that the Modi government will look at the local public sentiment before taking a call on whether to help crisis-hit Pakistan.
"...if I were to look at any big decision I am making, I will also look at what is the public sentiment. I would have a pulse what do my people feel about it. And I think you know the answer," he added.
The Union minister hit out at Pakistan over its economic predicament, suggesting that the neighbouring nation's support to terror group poses a hindrance for its economic prosperty.
"No country is ever going to come out of a difficult situation and become a prosperous power if its basic industry is terrorism," he said at Asia Economic Dialogue in the national capital organised by the external affairs ministry.
"Terrorism is a fundamental issue in [India's] relationship with Pakistan ... we must not be in denial of it," Jaishankar added.
The remarks come just days after Jaishankar criticised Pakistan for leading itself into a crippling economic crisis.

Earlier, in an interview with ANI, Jaishankar said the country's future is largely determined by its actions and the choices it makes.
"Nobody reaches a difficult situation suddenly and without cause," he had said.
The Pakistan economy is in dire straits amid depleting forex reserves and soaring inflation.
The country is desperately seeking a much-needed bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to pull itself out of a spiralling debt crisis.
In order to stave off bankruptcy and debt default, the crisis-ridden country has already removed artificial caps on its currency resulting in it shedding more than a quarter of its value; fuel prices have jumped by almost a fifth and are expected to rise further; key policy rate has been hiked; and taxes on luxury items have been increased.
(With inputs from agencies)