Jaishankar uses Twitter to counter Gandhi’s criticism of foreign policy

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New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar slammed Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday, Feb. 3, for claiming Narendra Modi government’s policies had brought Pakistan and China closer together, and criticized the lack of foreign main guests for the Republic Day celebrations.

While addressing parliament on Tuesday, Gandhi said India had isolated itself in the region. “The nation is threatened from without and from within. and I don’t like it. It worries me,” he said.

He added that “India’s strategic objective should have been to keep China and Pakistan separate.”

“But what you did was bring them together. Do not underestimate what we are up against. It is a serious threat to India,” Gandhi said.

This led Jaishankar to claim that Gandhi needed “some history lessons” as the two nations had always been close over the past 70 years. He then tweeted a series of dates beginning with those on the transfer of Aksai Chin and the construction of the Karakoram highway.

He also pointed out that China and Pakistan have also collaborated in the development of Islamabad’s nuclear program. Beijing has also invested in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. “So ask yourself: were China and Pakistan far apart then? “.

-From the 1970s, the two countries also had close nuclear cooperation.

-In 2013, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor started.

So ask yourself: Were China and Pakistan distant then?

—Dr. S.Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 2, 2022

The Congressman had also pointed out that India had no guests for the Republic Day parade this year as the country is “completely isolated and surrounded”.

Jaishankar noted that “those who live in India know we were in the middle of a corona wave.” This was a reference to the ruling party’s criticism that Gandhi travels abroad frequently.

He further claimed that five Central Asian presidents “who are due to come” held a virtual summit with Indian Prime Minister Modi on January 27.

In Lok Sabha @RahulGandhi said we can’t have foreign guest for Republic Day. Those who live in India know that we were in the middle of a corona wave.

The 5 Central Asian presidents, who were due to come, held a virtual summit on January 27. Did Rahul Gandhi also miss this?

—Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 2, 2022

Jaishankar’s assertion that Central Asian presidents were to be the main guests on Republic Day is the first official confirmation from the Indian government.

The MEA never officially announced that Central Asian leaders would be the main guests, although there had been speculation for weeks.

At an MEA briefing on January 6, reporters asked whether the heads of Central Asian republics would be the main guests in the Republic Day parade. “Regarding Republic Day, as I said, you know that announcements of this nature are made at an opportune time. We will share details with you once this is finalized,” the MEA spokesperson replied.

It was the second year in a row that there was no foreign lead guest for the Republic Day parade.

In 2020, there was an official announcement to postpone the visit of that year’s chief guest, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in light of the COVID-19 situation.

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