Polish FM counters India over Pakistan visit, cites Russian military drills as “threat”

A diplomatic dispute has emerged between India and Poland following comments by Indian Foreign Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar regarding Polish Deputy Prime Minister Radoslaw Sikorski’s recent trip to Pakistan.

The tensions come less than six months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Warsaw in August 2024, a trip that included a subsequent visit to Ukraine.

Sikorski’s October 2025 visit to Islamabad, the first by a Polish minister to Pakistan in recent years, focused on expanding bilateral political and economic cooperation. During the two-day visit, both nations pledged to elevate their relationship into what they described as a “comprehensive and mutually beneficial partnership.”

However, Jaishankar, speaking in a televised briefing, directly addressed Sikorski’s Pakistan trip, urging Warsaw to adopt a “zero tolerance” approach toward terrorism and cautioning against actions that could strengthen terrorist networks in India’s neighborhood. He also noted Sikorski’s prior reporting experience in Afghanistan during the 1980s, suggesting that the Polish minister was “no stranger to the region” and well aware of the long-standing issues posed by cross-border terrorism.

Jaishankar also rebuked Sikorski’s recent remarks in Paris, where the Polish minister had expressed satisfaction at India’s decision to reduce Russian oil imports, framing it as a move against financing Russia’s war efforts. “I have repeatedly underlined that the selective targeting of India is both unfair and unjustified. I do so again today,” Jaishankar said during their meeting at Hyderabad House.

Sikorski, speaking to reporters afterward, said that while both countries shared concerns about terrorism, Warsaw viewed India’s participation in the Zapad 2025 military exercises with Russia and Belarus as a source of tension. The drills, conducted in September 2025 near NATO borders, were described by Sikorski as “threatening” in the regional context.

When asked about the discussions on regional politics and the broader regional situation, Sikorski acknowledged that both countries face a mix of opportunities and challenges with their neighbors. He said that while India and Poland are aligned on the threat of terrorism, Warsaw also has its own security concerns, particularly regarding India’s participation in the Zapad military exercises in Russia, which Poland viewed as threatening.

The exchange marks a rare strain in India-Poland relations, highlighting the balancing act both countries face between shared security interests and broader geopolitical considerations. Analysts suggest the row could complicate future diplomatic and trade engagements, even as both sides reaffirm a commitment to dialogue.

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