New Delhi: The Congress party criticised the central government’s foreign policy on the first anniversary of the Pahalgam terror attack. Party leader Jairam Ramesh said Pakistan has gained global acceptance despite its record, and he linked this to policy failure.
Ramesh said April 22 remains a day of grief for the country. He remembered the victims of the attack, which killed 26 people, most of them tourists. He also referred to a local pony handler who lost his life while trying to save a tourist.
He stated that authorities in Jammu and Kashmir had acknowledged an intelligence lapse after the incident. He questioned what action followed this admission, even though security forces later brought the attackers to justice.
Ramesh said Pakistan faced isolation after the Mumbai attacks in 2008. He described its economy as dependent on external support and pointed to internal political instability. Despite these conditions, he said Pakistan now holds a degree of global acceptance.
He linked this shift to what he described as weaknesses in India’s diplomatic approach. He criticised the current strategy and said it lacks substance. He called for a reset in foreign policy, though he expressed doubt that such a change will take place.
The Pahalgam attack was carried out by the Pakistan based group Lashkar e Taiba. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting infrastructure linked to militant activity in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir.
The remarks come amid continued political debate over national security and foreign relations.
