With the commencement of peace talks between the United States and Iran in Pakistan's capital Islamabad, India's political opposition has launched sharp criticism against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. Opposition leaders argue that the emergence of their rival nation as an international mediator highlights failures in India's diplomatic strategy and diminishes its global standing.
India's main opposition party, the Indian National Congress (INC), stated: “The government's incompetence has allowed Pakistan to claim a pivotal role in the great-power competition in Asia, which will also give it leverage over India on crucial bilateral matters through third parties, effectively internationalizing India-Pakistan matters.” Another key opposition figure, Akhilesh Yadav, claimed the ruling BJP had “ruined our foreign policy,” suggesting India now appears weak while Pakistan strengthens its international position.
Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar previously referred to Pakistan as a “dalal” (broker), a term with negative connotations. More recently, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated India welcomed the US-Iran ceasefire but pointedly avoided commenting on Pakistan's mediating role, reflecting Delhi's discomfort with Islamabad's diplomatic ascendancy.
The peace talks occur during a strained period in US-India relations. Trade tariffs imposed by the Washington regime, Donald Trump's purported claims about brokering India-Pakistan peace, and New Delhi's ties with Moscow have collectively undermined India's self-image as a diplomatic champion domestically, despite ongoing partnership in security and technology.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is campaigning in West Bengal, where his Hindu nationalist BJP party has historically never won elections. The nation's focus remains fixed on the Islamabad negotiations, with opposition figures expressing dissatisfaction that Modi's foreign policy has allegedly ceded strategic space to Pakistan, enabling it to emerge as a significant player on the global diplomatic stage.
Source: www.dw.com