Don t help fuel terrorism in our neighbourhood EAM Jaishankar to Poland

In a blunt articulation of India’s concerns, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday urged Poland to display zero tolerance towards terrorism in India’s neighbourhood and cautioned against what he described as the “unfair” and “selective targeting” of India, including on issues linked to tariffs and geopolitical alignments.

Addressing Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski during their meeting here, Jaishankar, without naming Pakistan, said Poland should be mindful of the longstanding challenge of cross-border terrorism faced by India.

“Deputy Prime Minister, you are no stranger to our region and are well aware of the longstanding challenge of cross-border terrorism. I hope at this meeting to discuss some of your recent travels to the region. Poland should display zero-tolerance for terrorism and not help fuel the terrorist infrastructure in our neighbourhood,” he said, in remarks reflecting New Delhi’s sensitivities over external engagements in South Asia. Referring to the Ukraine conflict, the EAM said he had earlier shared India’s views candidly with Sikorski in meetings in New York and Paris, while repeatedly underlining that selective targeting of India was unfair and unjustified.

Sikorski, in his remarks, said he completely agreed with Jaishankar on the “unfairness” and “selective targeting” in the context of tariffs, particularly with regard to India’s relations with Russia.

Responding to Sikorski’s opening remarks, the External Affairs Minister said such selective targeting was “not limited to tariffs” and had taken other forms as well, adding that these issues would be discussed during the talks.

The meeting comes months after Sikorski’s visit to Islamabad in October, where he held wide-ranging talks with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. A joint statement issued after that visit included a reference to the Kashmir issue, which was closely watched in New Delhi.

Jaishankar also said the meeting was taking place at a time of “considerable churn” globally, underlining the need for countries across regions to exchange perspectives. He noted that India-Poland relations, though warm and friendly, required constant attention.

He recalled that bilateral ties were elevated to a strategic partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Poland in August 2024, and said the two sides would review the Action Plan 2024-28 to unlock the full potential of the partnership. Discussions, he said, would cover trade and investment, defence and security, clean technologies and digital innovation.

Poland is among India’s largest trading partners in Central Europe, with bilateral trade at around $7 billion after registering nearly 200 per cent growth over the past decade. Indian investments in Poland have crossed $3 billion, creating significant employment opportunities, Jaishankar said, adding that India’s economic growth and pro-investment policies offered immense scope for Polish businesses.

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Courtesy: The Tribune -20-Jan-2026