NEW DELHI: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Saturday jabbed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, questioning the government’s failure to prevent Washington from according Islamabad a key role in mediating between the United States and Iran.This comes after US Vice President JD Vance arrived in Islamabad to lead crucial talks with an Iranian delegation aimed at stabilising a fragile ceasefire and exploring a broader peace process in West Asia.Reacting to the development, Ramesh expressed hope for peace but raised concerns over India’s diplomatic position.In a post on X, he wrote: “The US-Iran meeting is beginning today in Islamabad. The entire world, including India, are hoping that this is the beginning of a durable peace process between the two countries that will not get derailed by Israel’s continuing agression in its neighbourhood.”He then questioned the government’s foreign policy approach, referring to what he called the Prime Minister’s ‘huglomacy’.“But serious questions about the substance and style of the self-declared Vishwaguru’s huglomacy arise,” he wrote.The Congress leader also raised four key questions over the development:
- How has Pakistan managed to carve out a new role for itself despite its role in the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack of April 2025 and the diplomatic engagement India mounted to isolate it following the attacks? This failure is especially damming because the Dr Manmohan Singh Government had very effectively isolated Pakistan after the Mumbai terror attacks in Nov 2008.
- How has India allowed the US to accord Pakistan this new role even after the Namaste Trump, Howdy Modi, and Phir Ek Baar Trump Sarkar campaigns of Mr. Modi and his cheerleaders? India also agreed to a very clearly one-sided trade deal where it gave much more than what it could get – and yet the Modi Government failed the gain any leverage with the US.
- Why didn’t India as the current President of BRICS+ launch any peace or mediation initiative – especially since Iran, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia are members of the BRICs+?
- What has India gained from its callibrated capitulation to China in the past eighteen months – especially in view of China’s pivotal role in Pakistan’s response to Operation Sindoor and its continued propping up of Pakistan?
“Peace in West Asia must return quickly. The Strait of Hormuz must once again revert to the situation that prevailed before the US-Israel assault on Iran began on Feb 28th – a mere two days after Mr.Modi had completed a most ill-advised and ill-timed visit to Israel,” the Congress leader wrote. Ramesh’s remarks come amid heightened diplomatic tensions linked to the ongoing conflict, which began after US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February.The war has disrupted global energy flows, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, pushing up oil prices and increasing pressure for a negotiated settlement.The Congress leader also alleged that India failed to leverage its ties with Washington despite high-profile engagements such as ‘Namaste Trump’ and ‘Howdy Modi’.The talks in Islamabad are taking place under tight security, with roads sealed and movement restricted in parts of the city. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has described the negotiations as a “make-or-break” moment for regional stability.The Iranian delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, is expected to push for key conditions, including a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of blocked Iranian assets.US Vice President JD Vance, ahead of the talks, warned Tehran against attempting to exploit the negotiations but also expressed cautious optimism about a positive outcome.The developments come against the backdrop of continued tensions in the region, particularly in Lebanon, and ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, which carries nearly 20 per cent of the world’s energy supply.Ramesh has been a vocal critic of the government’s handling of the conflict. In an earlier post, he had accused the Centre of remaining silent on the US-Israel strikes on Iran and failing to take any meaningful diplomatic initiative to de-escalate the situation.
