India rattled by Pakistan’s Iran mediation role; Jaishankar makes spiteful remarks
New Delhi: Pakistan’s emerging role as a mediator in the current Iran war has rattled India, prompting External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to make disparaging remarks about Islamabad. The comments come after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government came under fire over what the opposition described as the country’s isolation after siding with Israel ahead of the war.
According to Kashmir Media Service, at an all-party meeting convened to discuss the West Asia crisis, Jaishankar dismissed Pakistan’s mediation efforts, saying India does not see itself as a “dalaal” (broker) like its neighbor. “There is nothing new in Pakistan’s mediation efforts, as that country has been ‘used’ by the US since 1981,” Jaishankar said.
The comments follow sharp domestic criticism of Modi’s visit to Israel last month, which opposition parties described as a betrayal of India’s long-standing foreign policy and a demonstration of “moral cowardice” amid intense global scrutiny of Israeli actions.
The visit had drawn fire at home even as Modi sought to strengthen strategic cooperation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, including defence, technology and bilateral ties.On the other hand, Pakistan is rapidly positioning itself as a central diplomatic player, with officials and international reports pointing to Islamabad’s growing role as a key intermediary between Washington and Tehran in efforts to prevent a wider regional conflict.
