The Indian National Congress has sharply criticised the BJP-led central government, calling Pakistan’s role in hosting US-Iran talks a significant diplomatic setback for India. The opposition argued that Islamabad emerging as a venue for high-level negotiations signals a shift in regional influence that reflects poorly on India’s foreign policy approach.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh stated that Pakistan’s involvement in facilitating talks between the United States and Iran indicates that it is regaining diplomatic relevance despite its internal economic challenges. He suggested that this development highlights India’s inability to effectively isolate Pakistan on the global stage, a goal that has been central to its foreign policy in recent years.
The criticism comes amid reports that the Donald Trump administration is engaging more closely with Pakistan, including its army chief Asim Munir. Congress leaders described Munir’s growing proximity to Trump as a serious concern, arguing that Pakistan appears to have managed its diplomatic outreach more effectively, particularly within influential circles in Washington.
Ramesh also referred to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s earlier remark that India does not act as a “broker” nation in global geopolitics. Using that context, he questioned whether India’s refusal to play a mediating role has limited its diplomatic leverage, especially when Pakistan is now being seen as a facilitator in sensitive international negotiations.
The Congress further claimed that Pakistan’s ability to host such talks, despite its economic struggles, shows that it has successfully repositioned itself diplomatically. Ramesh pointed out that following the initial round of discussions, Pakistan reportedly secured substantial financial support from countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which he said reinforces its continued strategic importance.
Additionally, the party compared the current situation with the period following the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, arguing that earlier governments had managed to build stronger international pressure against Pakistan. In contrast, they alleged that the present government’s diplomatic strategy has not produced comparable results.
The remarks also included broader criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with Congress leaders claiming that both the substance and style of India’s global engagement need a complete overhaul. They argued that evolving geopolitical dynamics—particularly the US-Pakistan engagement—require a more adaptive and assertive diplomatic strategy.
Overall, the issue reflects a larger debate over India’s foreign policy direction, especially in a rapidly changing global environment where regional alliances, strategic partnerships, and diplomatic positioning are continuously being recalibrated.
