Congress Calls Pakistan’s Role in US-Iran Talks a ‘Setback’ for Modi’s Foreign Policy

The Indian National Congress on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Centre, describing Pakistan’s emerging role in the US-Iran peace talks as a “monumental setback” for India’s foreign policy.

The ‘dalal’ country, as the erudite and always nattily dressed External Affairs Minister described it, is reportedly hosting the second round of US-Iran peace talks today.

After the completion of the first round of these talks on April 12th, Pakistan borrowed $6 billion from…

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) April 20, 2026

In a statement, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, questioning the effectiveness of India’s diplomatic outreach. Ramesh claimed that the growing prominence of Pakistan, particularly with its Army Chief Asim Munir reportedly becoming a “favourite” of former US President Donald Trump, reflects poorly on India’s strategic positioning. He further argued that the situation demands a comprehensive overhaul of India’s diplomatic engagement strategy, alleging that the current leadership is “incapable” of delivering such changes. In a post on X, Ramesh also made a pointed remark referencing External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, alluding to his past description of Pakistan, while noting reports that Islamabad is hosting the second round of US-Iran peace talks. The remarks come amid heightened geopolitical activity in the region, with Pakistan reportedly playing a more active role in facilitating dialogue between the United States and Iran—developments that the Congress says warrant serious reflection from New Delhi.