Congress Slams Jaishankar Over Xi Meeting, Cites China’s Support to Pakistan During Operation Sindoor
New Delhi, 16th July 2025: The Congress party launched a sharp offensive against External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar following his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, accusing him of mishandling India’s foreign relations and overlooking critical national concerns.
Leading the charge, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi alleged that Jaishankar was orchestrating a “full-blown circus” with serious implications for India’s foreign policy. In a social media post, Gandhi took a direct jab, stating, “Seems like the Chinese Foreign Minister will now brief Prime Minister Modi on bilateral ties. Meanwhile, our External Affairs Minister is busy running a circus that’s dismantling India’s foreign policy framework.”
Jaishankar’s visit to China, his first in five years, comes amid continued efforts by both nations to mend ties strained by the prolonged standoff in eastern Ladakh. However, Congress leaders argue that the timing and nature of the meeting are questionable, especially in light of China’s military and diplomatic support to Pakistan.
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh reignited the issue of Chinese involvement in Operation Sindoor, asserting that recent developments in India-China relations must include Beijing’s backing of Pakistan. He cited remarks by Indian Army Deputy Chief Lt. Gen. Rahul Singh, who recently stated that China used the operation as a “live lab” for testing advanced military technology and supplied real-time intelligence to Pakistan.
“Since the Prime Minister’s last engagement with Xi Jinping, China has backed Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, transforming it into a testing ground for network-centric warfare, deploying equipment like the J-10C jets, PL-15E air-to-air missiles, and surveillance drones,” Ramesh noted in a formal statement.
He also raised concerns over China’s recent decision to limit exports of crucial equipment such as rare-earth magnets and tunnel-boring machines to India. Additionally, Ramesh pointed out that a significant number of Chinese workers have been withdrawn from the Foxconn plant in India, impacting iPhone manufacturing operations.
Highlighting the lack of transparency, the Rajya Sabha MP questioned the Modi government’s reluctance to allow parliamentary discussion on India-China border tensions. “If Parliament could debate the border conflict during the peak of the 1962 war, why not now, especially when both nations are discussing re-normalising ties, though not necessarily returning to the pre-May 2020 status quo?” he asked.
Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate echoed these concerns during a press briefing, referencing Jaishankar’s controversial 2023 comment where he downplayed India’s capacity to confront larger economies like China.
“The meeting with Xi Jinping isn’t surprising. It aligns with Jaishankar’s pattern of undermining India’s strategic confidence through his statements,” Shrinate asserted.
The Congress party’s criticism comes at a crucial juncture as India navigates a complex web of geopolitical challenges in the region.
