Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday launched a fresh attack on the Narendra Modi government, alleging that the growing warmth between the United States and Pakistan reflected a diplomatic setback for India and exposed shortcomings in the Centre’s foreign policy.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, Ramesh said the close engagement between Washington and Islamabad had continued despite the collapse of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran that was agreed to last month.
“The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the USA and Iran agreed to last month has now all but collapsed. But the bonhomie between the USA and Pakistan continues,” Ramesh said.
Highlighting a series of recent interactions between senior American and Pakistani officials, the Congress leader argued that the relationship had moved beyond conventional diplomatic exchanges.
“After President Trump, the Vice President, the Secretary of State, and the Central Command Chief, it is now the turn of the FBI Director Kash Patel to warmly embrace Pakistan. Yesterday he praised Pakistan effusively when its Interior Minister met him. Something definitely more than diplomatic niceties is at play here,” he said.
Ramesh contended that Pakistan’s growing influence in West Asia and on the global stage had weakened India’s diplomatic position and questioned the Modi government’s foreign policy credentials.
“That this new position of influence held by Pakistan in West Asia and indeed in the world is a severe setback to India and a question mark on the substance and style of the self-proclaimed Vishwaguru is now beyond any doubt,” he said.
The Congress has been consistently critical of the Centre’s handling of foreign affairs, alleging that India’s strategic influence has diminished despite the government’s claims of enhanced global stature. The Bharatiya Janata Party has rejected such accusations, asserting that India has significantly strengthened its international partnerships and emerged as a leading global voice under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The latest remarks add to the Opposition’s sustained criticism of the government’s diplomatic strategy, with the Congress urging a reassessment of India’s engagement with major powers and neighbouring countries amid evolving geopolitical developments. The Centre has maintained that its foreign policy is anchored in strategic autonomy, national interest and the expansion of India’s global partnerships.
