External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar made a strong and impactful statement in Parliament during a heated discussion on Operation Sindoor. Amid intense sloganeering and vocal protests from the Opposition benches, he took the opportunity to respond directly to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remarks, suggesting a deepening alliance between Pakistan and China. Jaishankar stated that this close cooperation between the two neighbouring countries is not a sudden development, but rather a consequence of the foreign policy decisions made during the years of Congress-led governance. He strongly hinted that the foundation for such relations was laid in the past, and the current government is dealing with the repercussions of those earlier choices.
In a sharp and somewhat mocking tone, Jaishankar took aim at Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, referring to him as a “China Guru” for his earlier enthusiasm towards China and his coining of the term "Chindia"—a term meant to represent a vision of cooperation between India and China. Jaishankar said that while he may not have learned about China through Olympic visits or backchannel meetings, others, implying Congress leaders, seemed to have developed their knowledge of China from questionable interactions, including private tutoring sessions at home with the Chinese Ambassador. His comments were meant to underscore how Congress's approach to China had been naive or overly accommodating.
Continuing his speech, Jaishankar addressed the repeated Opposition claims that the Centre was failing to manage the growing nexus between China and Pakistan. He dismissed the idea that these ties had developed suddenly, remarking that anyone who believed so must have missed important history lessons. This was a clear criticism of Rahul Gandhi’s assertion that the Indian government was caught unaware by the strength of the China-Pakistan alliance. Jaishankar stressed that the current administration is well aware of the challenges posed by both nations and is actively working to counter their influence.
Jairam Ramesh had originally coined the term “Chindia” decades ago, and he defended his use of the term in an interview with the Chinese state-run Global Times in 2014, explaining that the idea was rooted in fostering cooperation between India and China to tackle future challenges together. However, Jaishankar’s comments painted a picture of that cooperation being misguided or overly trusting of China’s intentions. He implied that such strategies of closeness had backfired, placing India in a vulnerable position today.
During the Monsoon Session, the Congress party repeatedly criticized the Centre’s foreign policy, alleging that it had failed to prevent Pakistan and China from growing closer. Rahul Gandhi made a pointed statement in Parliament, saying that India had failed in its most important foreign policy goal—keeping China and Pakistan apart. He claimed that while India thought it was engaging only with Pakistan, it was actually dealing with a dual threat that included China. This, he suggested, was a massive strategic blunder by the current government, further igniting the ongoing debate over India’s foreign policy direction and security priorities.
In this context, Jaishankar's rebuttal not only sought to counter Rahul Gandhi’s narrative but also to remind the Parliament and the public that the roots of current challenges with China and Pakistan lie deep in past decisions. The Minister’s tone was sharp and unapologetic, making it clear that while the government recognizes the threat, it refuses to accept sole responsibility for the problem, placing part of the blame squarely on the shoulders of the previous UPA regime.
