Reports of Pakistan positioning itself as a mediator to broker an end to the US-Israeli war against Iran have sparked criticism from the Indian opposition targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claims of global leadership. According to a Financial Times report on Monday, Pakistan's Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir spoke to US President Donald Trump on Sunday, pitching Islamabad as a possible venue for talks, citing people briefed on the call. This development comes as Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday, with negotiations potentially beginning as early as this week.
Congress Party leader Rahul Gandhi called India's foreign policy under Modi a "joke," highlighting the perceived diplomatic setbacks. In an interview with The Times of India, Gandhi stated: "Our foreign policy is Prime Minister Modi's personal foreign policy. You can see the result of this. It's a universal joke. Everybody considers it a universal joke." Other Congress leaders, including Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh, echoed this criticism on social media, noting Pakistan's superior diplomatic engagement compared to the Modi government's efforts, despite India's military successes in Operation Sindoor.
Prime Minister Modi, in response, emphasized India's involvement in peace initiatives in the Middle East. Addressing the upper house of Parliament on Tuesday, Modi claimed that New Delhi is "in communication with Iran, Israel, and the US," adding, "We have also spoken to them about de-escalation and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz." He also warned of the long-term economic impact of the ongoing US-Iran conflict, urging Indians to brace for potential disruptions to energy supplies and inflation, while the government has set up seven empowered groups to monitor fuel, supply chains, and inflation.
The economic measures announced by the Modi government, including monitoring groups and calls for state-level action against black marketing, face skepticism from critics who question their effectiveness amid India's declining diplomatic influence. Pakistan's mediation efforts could pose challenges to India's regional role, adding pressure on Modi's foreign policy as the conflict in the Middle East continues to unfold.
Source: www.dw.com