Post by : Meena Ariff

India has expressed strong concerns to Poland regarding what it describes as the "selective and unfair targeting" of New Delhi over its trade relations with Russia amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar warned Warsaw against providing any form of support, directly or indirectly, to Pakistan concerning cross-border terrorism.

In a significant meeting held in New Delhi with Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, both leaders reviewed the rapidly expanding India-Poland Strategic Partnership. They discussed key regional and global issues, focusing on enhanced cooperation in trade, investment, defence, security, clean technology, and digital innovation.

Jaishankar emphasized that the talks occurred during a period of considerable global turbulence, highlighting the importance of dialogue between nations from different regions. He recalled that India and Poland had upgraded their relationship to a strategic partnership in August 2024 and noted plans to review the Action Plan for 2024-28 to deepen collaboration.

The discussion soon shifted to geopolitical matters, particularly the Ukraine crisis. Jaishankar reiterated India's consistent stance shared at international platforms, including New York and Paris, and reaffirmed it in New Delhi. He underscored that the selective targeting of India’s independent foreign policy regarding the Ukraine war is both unjust and unwarranted. India continues to call for dialogue and diplomacy instead of aligning with bloc-based positions.

Another major topic raised was cross-border terrorism, a long-standing issue for India. Jaishankar reminded Minister Sikorski of the security threats India faces from across its borders and expressed hope that Poland would maintain a strict zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism. He stressed that Poland must not support or facilitate terrorist networks in India’s neighborhood, an indirect reference to Pakistan.

India has recently stepped up diplomatic efforts to alert European countries and institutions about Pakistan’s role in financing terrorism and providing safe havens to extremist groups. The message sent was clear: while India values its growing partnership with Poland and the EU, it expects principled and unwavering positions against terrorism.

Jaishankar’s call for Poland’s zero tolerance toward terrorism is also viewed as a response to Poland’s earlier comments on Kashmir during its visit to Islamabad in October 2025.

Minister Sikorski acknowledged India’s concerns and agreed that the selective use of tariffs is unfair and could lead to broader disruptions in global trade. He also shared Poland’s experiences with terrorism, citing recent incidents such as arson attacks and sabotage on railway lines, stressing the need for international cooperation to counter cross-border terrorism.

This meeting highlights the strengthening economic and strategic relationship between India and Poland. Poland stands as one of India’s largest trading partners in Central Europe, with bilateral trade nearing USD 7 billion and Indian investments exceeding USD 3 billion. Both nations expressed optimism that their strategic partnership will continue to grow, even as India clearly defined its boundaries regarding geopolitical pressures and terrorism.

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