Modi hopes for ‘peaceful’ ties with Pak, China ahead of elections

DELHI: India’s Prime Minister and leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Narendra Modi, has voiced his commitment to nurturing peaceful relations with Pakistan and China as the nation braces for general elections.

Indian bilateral relations have been strained with both neighbors over multiple factors, casting a shadow on the overall foreign policy of the Modi government.

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Speaking to a US magazine based out of New York, Modi diplomatically refrained from commenting on inquiries regarding Pakistan’s internal affairs. The interview was conducted in the lead-up to the forthcoming three-month-long Lok Sabha [lower house of parliament] Elections.

Responding to queries about Pakistan, Modi just repeated India’s diplomatic stance on advocating for regional peace, security, and prosperity.

The diplomatic ties between Pakistan and India had been strained since the 2019 Pulwama attack, in which 40 Indian soldiers were killed. While India attributed the attack to Pakistan, the latter vehemently denied the allegations, citing lack of substantial evidence.

Another straining factor for the two countries since August 5, 2019 is when the India revoked the special status or autonomy granted to Jammu and Kashmir, under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution.

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On the other hand, on Indo-China relations, Modi spoke on the urgency of addressing border tensions, labelling the current situation as “abnormal.” Stressing the significance of stable bilateral relations, he hoped for restoring peace through constructive engagement.

The strained India-China relationship experienced a sharp downturn in 2020 following clashes in the high-altitude Galwan Valley, where 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives.