Cong calls possible Pakistan role in US-Iran negotiations a setback for India

The Indian National Congress on Tuesday stated that reports suggesting Pakistan could be acting as an intermediary between the United States, Israel and Iran, if accurate, would amount to a significant diplomatic setback for India.

The remarks came after the Financial Times reported that Pakistan was positioning itself as a mediator in efforts to end the West Asia conflict and had offered Islamabad as a potential venue for talks. The administration of Donald Trump did not confirm the report, saying that such speculation should not be treated as final until formally announced by the White House.

In a social media post, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that if the developments were true, they would represent a serious setback and a diplomatic rebuff for India. He attributed the situation to what he described as the approach of the “self-styled Vishwaguru”, indirectly referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Scroll.in reported.

Ramesh further argued that despite India’s claimed military achievements in Operation Sindoor, Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach and narrative-building since then had been more effective than that of the Modi government. He suggested that Pakistan, which had been facing political, economic and global challenges, had gained renewed momentum.

He also claimed that Pakistan’s establishment had developed close ties with individuals in Trump’s immediate circle. Additionally, he criticised Modi’s visit to Israel on February 25 and 26, shortly before the US-Israel strikes on Iran began, describing it as a poorly judged move that, in his view, weakened India’s ability to act as a mediator. He remarked that the consequences of the Prime Minister’s foreign policy approach were now becoming evident.

According to the broader context, the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, citing concerns that Tehran’s actions posed a serious threat to Israel’s security. Iran responded with retaliatory attacks targeting Israeli and US positions in the region, as well as locations in Gulf countries and some vessels.

Israel has maintained that Iran is nearing the development of nuclear weapons, which it says could shift the regional balance of power. Iran, however, has consistently asserted that its nuclear programme is intended for civilian use.