Congress slams ‘Islamabad MOU’, says Pakistan’s rising profile reflects setback for Modi’s foreign policy

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‎Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the Narendra Modi government’s foreign policy following the official release of the 14-point Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the United States and Iran, arguing that the agreement underscores Pakistan’s growing regional influence and poses significant strategic challenges for India.

‎In a post on social media platform X, Ramesh said the very naming of the agreement as the “Islamabad MOU” reflected Pakistan’s enhanced diplomatic standing and growing relevance in regional and global affairs.

‎“The fact that it is called the Islamabad MOU shows the new-found regional standing and global influence of Pakistan, a country that had once been isolated on the global stage by Dr. Manmohan Singh following the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008,” he said.

‎The Congress leader described the development as “a severe setback to both the substance and style” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy, contending that Pakistan had become more deeply embedded in the geopolitical and security architecture of West Asia.

‎“Pakistan is now even more deeply embedded in the geopolitical and security architecture of West Asia which has grave and great implications for India,” Ramesh said.

‎The remarks came amid intense international scrutiny of the agreement, which seeks to ease tensions between Washington and Tehran after months of conflict and diplomatic confrontation. Ramesh said that while the MOU represented a potentially significant diplomatic breakthrough, questions remained over its long-term viability.

‎“The MOU, if it holds in letter and spirit, is a major advance. But it also has the potential for becoming a Memorandum of Misunderstanding from both sides. For the time being, all that can be said is that the next 60 days will be crucial,” he said.

‎Highlighting what he described as gains secured by Iran under the agreement, Ramesh argued that Tehran had demonstrated considerable resilience despite military and economic pressures.

‎“The MOU itself has very significant and even unexpected gains for Iran, which has demonstrated its resistance and resilience,” he said, adding that Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, which had borne the impact of Iranian counter-attacks during the conflict, had cautiously welcomed the agreement but were likely to reassess their strategic partnerships in the region.

‎Ramesh also claimed that the agreement represented a diplomatic setback for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He said Netanyahu remained internationally isolated and suggested that even US President Donald Trump had publicly expressed frustration with the Israeli leader.

‎“The MOU is a definite defeat for the Prime Minister of Israel who can still torpedo it in different ways,” Ramesh said.

‎The Congress general secretary further accused Prime Minister Modi of maintaining unwavering support for Israel’s military actions in the region.

‎“Only Modi remains steadfast in his support of Netanyahu’s actions in the region — including in Lebanon, Gaza, and the occupied West Bank. This blind devotion to Israel by Modi is costing our country dearly,” he alleged.

‎Turning his criticism toward Washington, Ramesh argued that the agreement highlighted the limitations of military solutions in resolving geopolitical conflicts. He claimed that the United States and Israel had launched military operations against Iran with objectives that had not been achieved.

‎“The MOU represents a serious blow to the US that along with Israel started the war with Iran on Feb. 28, 2026, with maximalist aims that have just not been realised. The limits of military power have been once again exposed,” he said.

‎Ramesh also took aim at Modi’s engagement with Trump, describing the Prime Minister’s approach toward the US President as excessive accommodation. Referring to the Ministry of External Affairs’ account of the recent Trump-Modi bilateral meeting, he alleged that the government’s stance was “shameful and actually anti-national.”

‎The Congress has repeatedly criticised the Modi government’s handling of foreign policy, particularly its approach toward relations with neighbouring countries, West Asia and major global powers. The latest comments from Ramesh add to the opposition party’s broader argument that India’s strategic interests require a more balanced and independent diplomatic posture amid rapidly evolving geopolitical developments across the Middle East and beyond.