The Congress on Monday criticised the central government, saying Pakistan’s reported role in hosting US-Iran peace talks shows a diplomatic setback for India.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that Pakistan hosting the second round of talks reflects a growing role in global diplomacy. He also pointed out that Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir is becoming close to US President Donald Trump, which he called a concern for India.
Ramesh referred to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s earlier remark that India cannot act as a “broker nation” in global matters. He questioned the current government’s foreign policy and said there is a need to rethink India’s diplomatic strategy.
He also said that despite Pakistan’s economic problems, the country is managing to stay active on the global stage. He mentioned that after the first round of talks, Pakistan received financial support from countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
The Congress leader further said that India has not been able to isolate Pakistan diplomatically, and compared the situation with the period after the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
He added that Pakistan has been more effective in building relations within the US leadership, especially with Donald Trump and his circle.
The US and Iran had held talks earlier this month to reduce tensions, but no agreement was reached. While the US has spoken about another round of discussions, there is no official confirmation yet from Iran.
The Congress has now called for a complete review of India’s foreign policy approach, saying changes are needed to handle such developments.
