Foreign policy drift has hit India's global standing: Congress

Congress on Thursday expressed concern over what it called "a drift" in foreign policy and "a visible decline" in India's influence in the world, including in the neighbourhood, and demanded a detailed parliamentary debate on the matter.

Congress Working Committee member Anand Sharma accused the Modi government of making "fundamental departures" on stated foreign policy matters "to the detriment of India's standing in the committee of nations at the United Nations".

"Foreign policy, as it has evolved since independence, always had the backing of a broad-based national consensus. It has never been held captive or hostage to partisan politics. Unfortunately, that national consensus has been weakened in recent years, if not completely broken down, due to many positions that this government has arbitrarily taken as a departure from India's traditional positions without consulting the Parliament or Opposition... The time has come for a comprehensive debate on India's strategic engagements and India's foreign policy," Sharma said at the AICC briefing.

He questioned the Centre's stand, especially in the UN vote on the Israel-Palestine war, especially on the killings in Gaza. "Why cannot India use its influence and voice to tell Israel to stop the violence," he asked, pointing out how many world nations had voted against Israel's attitude.

He advocated cautious trade negotiations with the US and said India, in the process, must not end up in conflict with its commitments to the World Trade Organisation and WTO pacts. He said India shouldn't become a party to unravelling of global trade pacts.