Jaishankar warns Poland against aiding terror networks nearby
In late October, Sikorski visited Islamabad, holding talks with Ishaq Dar that later included Kashmir in a joint statement.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar delivered a blunt and unusually direct message to Poland on Monday, urging it to show “zero-tolerance” for terrorism and warning against any actions that could help “fuel” terror infrastructure in India’s neighbourhood. The remarks appeared to be a clear response to a Poland–Pakistan joint statement issued in October that made a reference to the Kashmir issue.
Jaishankar made the comments during televised opening remarks at a meeting in New Delhi with his Polish counterpart Radosław Sikorski, who is also Poland’s deputy prime minister. The tone of the exchange reflected India’s growing impatience with what it sees as selective and inconsistent positions taken by some European countries on issues central to New Delhi’s security concerns.
The sharp message follows Sikorski’s late-October visit to Islamabad, where he held wide-ranging talks with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. A joint statement issued after that visit included a reference to Kashmir, an issue India considers strictly bilateral and highly sensitive. New Delhi has consistently opposed third-country commentary on the matter, particularly when it comes from nations that otherwise emphasise respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Jaishankar also used the meeting to express India’s “anguish” over what he described as unfair and unjustified “selective targeting” of New Delhi over the Ukraine conflict. His comments were widely seen as a reference to criticism from Western countries over India’s continued energy and economic ties with Russia.
“In the recent past, both in New York last September and in Paris this January, I have candidly shared with you our views on the Ukraine conflict and its implications,” Jaishankar said. I do so again today.”
Sikorski, responding to Jaishankar’s remarks, said he fully agreed with the assessment of “unfairness” and “selective targeting,” particularly in the context of tariffs and scrutiny related to India’s relationship with Russia. His comments suggested an attempt to acknowledge India’s concerns and keep the broader relationship on steady ground.
The Polish foreign minister is on a three-day visit to India, a trip that comes less than 10 days before senior European Union leaders are scheduled to travel to New Delhi. The timing has added significance to the discussions, as India and the EU look to manage differences while expanding cooperation in trade, security and geopolitics.
Despite the pointed exchanges, Jaishankar also highlighted the steady improvement in India–Poland relations. “We meet at a time when the world is under considerable churn,” he said. have progressed, they “need constant tending.”
The minister also recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Poland in August, signalling India’s interest in building a stronger, more balanced partnership — one that, from New Delhi’s perspective, must be anchored in mutual sensitivity to core security concerns.