Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Saturday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi after US President Donald Trump praised Pakistan’s leadership amid the ongoing conflict between Islamabad and the Taliban.Reacting to Trump’s remarks praising Pakistan’s leadership, Ramesh took to X to express his disapproval.
He wrote, “President Trump’s full-throated and categorical support for Pakistan in its war with Afghanistan is another setback for Indian ‘huglomacy.’ He has once again gone out of his way to praise the man whose inflammatory remarks provided the backdrop to the terrorist attacks in Pahalgam on April 22nd, 2025 that were orchestrated by Pakistan.”
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Ramesh also pointed to economic concerns arising from India-US trade engagements. “Our economic diplomacy with the US has failed badly, as evinced by Mr. Modi suddenly surrendering to a clearly one-sided trade deal in which India has made firm pledges especially to import from American farmers, while the US has made vague commitments to allow for greater exports from India. Not only that, days after the agreement, the US imposed a 125.87% import duty on solar modules from India,” he wrote.On strategic diplomacy, Congress leader added, “Our strategic diplomacy has received repeated blows by President Trump repeatedly cozying up to the Pakistani establishment and reverting to the hyphenation of India and Pakistan. The Prime Minister may, through his means, manage to get awards. But the fact is that the self-declared Vishwaguru has been exposed and the world, especially the US, has got his measure.”The remarks come after Trump praised Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces, Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif amid Islamabad’s ongoing conflict with the Taliban. At a White House briefing, Trump said, “Well, I would [intervene], but I get along with Pakistan, as you know, very well. Very, very well. You have a great prime minister, you have a great general there, you have a great leader. I think two of the people that I really respect a lot. I think Pakistan is doing terrifically well.”Following Trump’s comments, US Under Secretary of State Allison Hooker also expressed Washington’s backing for Islamabad. She wrote on X, “Spoke today with Pakistan Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch to express condolences for lives lost in the recent conflict between Pakistan and the Taliban. We continue to monitor the situation closely and expressed support for Pakistan’s right to defend itself against Taliban attacks.”The escalation comes after Pakistan carried out airstrikes on Afghan cities this week, marking its most significant military action since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Subsequent Taliban retaliation triggered further Pakistani strikes, with defence minister Khawaja Asif declaring that Pakistan was now in an “open war” with Afghanistan.While countries like the UK have urged de-escalation, China called for a ceasefire and Iran offered to mediate, India has maintained a close watch over developments. The New Delhi government has repeatedly denied any US role in facilitating ceasefires between India and Pakistan, attributing progress to direct bilateral talks.
