'Setback to India’s diplomacy'
The Congress on Wednesday welcomed the interim cessation of hostilities in West Asia but launched a sharp attack on the Narendra Modi government, accusing it of diplomatic missteps that allowed Pakistan to emerge as a key mediator in the US-Iran ceasefire deal.
In a detailed statement issued by its Foreign Affairs Department, the Congress described the temporary ceasefire as "a vital step towards de-escalation, renewed diplomacy and constructive dialogue" and hoped it would lead to lasting peace anchored in the United Nations Charter, particularly Articles 2(4) and 2(7), which prohibit the threat or use of force against territorial integrity and bar intervention in domestic matters.
The party, however, criticised the Modi government’s approach, stating that its "missteps, partisan alignment, and cowardly silence" have compromised India’s energy security, strained relationships in the extended neighbourhood, and weakened India’s standing as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region.
"Pakistan playing a role in mediating between the warring parties, despite India being better placed to serve as a credible interlocutor. This not only undermines the sustained efforts of successive Indian governments to diplomatically isolate Pakistan, but also affords Islamabad room to rehabilitate itself on the world stage, and thereby whitewash its track record of fomenting regional instability through support for cross-border terrorism targeting India, Afghanistan, and Iran," senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid said, echoing the party’s official statement.
The Congress highlighted tangible costs to India, including shortages of cooking gas, fertilisers and essential commodities affecting millions, disruption to diaspora Indians in West Asia, and new strategic vulnerabilities.
It alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s "partisan support for a far-right government on the eve of a war and national elections" and "ideological internationalism" contravened India’s traditional foreign policy consensus.
The statement urged the government to take the Opposition into confidence and adopt a unified national approach to restore India’s historic role as a "principled, proactive, and credible voice for peace and a just international order".
The two-week ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran was announced recently, with initial talks scheduled in Islamabad — a development that has drawn attention to Pakistan’s mediation efforts amid the recent escalation involving strikes and threats over the Strait of Hormuz.
The Congress statement reflects growing political debate in India over the government’s handling of the volatile West Asia situation, which has direct implications for India’s energy imports, expatriate workers, and regional influence.
