Foreign Minister S Jaishankar has criticized Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s effort to end the growing partnership between India and the United States and call India a front-line state of Western countries like the United States.
“Those who say all of this may be reflecting their own history and their own self-esteem. This is certainly not India, ”Jaishankar told the Hindustan Times in an interview on Saturday, giving his sharpest response to the government of Imran Khan that aligns itself with China and accuses India of playing for the United States.
‘For peace along the border, adhere to agreements’: S Jaishankar | Interview
In an interview with Dunya News, Imran Khan had linked the future of Pakistan with China, stating that China was the only country that had always supported it. In the same interview, Khan also said that “it was regrettable that the Western powers were using India to contain China.” This, he added, was one more reason why China needs Pakistan on its side; its geostrategic location was the other.
Jaishankar’s harsh response to Imran Khan’s description of India-US ties is seen as hinting at Islamabad’s policy of the past decades to operate as a representative of a powerful country, first for Americans and for the last. decade or so for China.
“Think about it,” said Jaishankar.
“India is a civilizing state of a unique nature. Look at our history. As we went through two very difficult centuries, we especially value our independence. Some people feel that because they did something, we will do the same too. India has a certain self-perception of itself, ”he said.
Jaishankar said that India has a personality of its own. “India has its own interests. India has a character of its own. It cannot be defined negatively as being against someone, ”said the minister, echoing India’s position on QUAD, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue with the United States, Japan and Australia which is also seen as an anti-China front. in Beijing.
China and the United States have been at odds over trade and human rights issues, along with China’s attempts to twist the arms of its neighbors in the disputed South China Sea and beyond.
India and the United States have found themselves on the same side regarding China, mainly after the soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army were stationed at the gates of India along the Royal Line of Control in the East Ladakh sector of India. The deployment of soldiers caused a confrontation between the two armies that will complete four months next week. China, despite disengagement agreements, has not withdrawn its soldiers from many outposts.
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