EAM’s ‘Broker country’ remark sparks row: Jairam Ramesh slams govt over West Asia diplomacy

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Thursday criticised the government over reports of Pakistan being seen as a mediator in the ongoing conflict in West Asia, calling it a setback for India’s regional diplomacy.

In a post on X, Ramesh took aim at External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar, stating that attempts were being made to manage what he described as an “embarrassing” diplomatic situation. He questioned how Pakistan could be considered for any mediatory role, citing its past record on terrorism, including sheltering global terrorists such as Osama bin Laden and its involvement in nuclear proliferation through the AQ Khan network.

Ramesh also referred to Pakistan’s internal and regional actions, alleging military operations against civilians and minorities in provinces such as Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He argued that such a track record made its emergence as a diplomatic facilitator deeply problematic.

The Congress leader drew a comparison with the aftermath of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, stating that under former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, India had succeeded in building global consensus against Pakistan. He claimed that in contrast, recent efforts had failed to diplomatically isolate Islamabad even after incidents such as the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025.

Ramesh further alleged that Pakistan’s military leadership, including Asim Munir, had gained greater international traction, including with the US leadership under Donald Trump.

He also responded to Jaishankar’s recent assertion that India does not act as a “broker”, and said that gaps in diplomatic outreach and narrative management had allowed Pakistan to gain relevance. The remarks come amid continuing political exchanges over India’s foreign policy approach under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.