Do not fuel terrorist infrastructure in our neighbourhood: Jaishankar tells Poland

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar with Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Radoslaw Sikorski. PIC/PTI

Poland should display "zero-tolerance" for terrorism and not help "fuel" the terrorist infrastructure in India's neighbourhood, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told his Polish counterpart Radoslaw Sikorski on Monday in a blunt message apparently over the mentioning of Kashmir in a Poland-Pakistan joint statement in October.

At a meeting with Sikorski, Jaishankar also expressed his anguish over the unfair and unjustified "selective targeting" of India over the Ukraine conflict, in what is seen as a reference to Western nations' criticism of New Delhi over its energy ties with Russia. On his part, Sikorski, who is also the Polish deputy minister, said he completely agreed with Jaishankar on the "unfairness" and "selective targeting" in the context of tariffs over India's relations with Russia.

Sikorski is on a three-day visit to India that came less than 10 days before the top leadership of the European Union travels to the country. "You are no stranger to our region and are certainly familiar with the longstanding challenge of cross-border terrorism," Jaishankar said. "I hope at this meeting to discuss some of your recent travels to the region. Poland should display zero-tolerance for terrorism and not help fuel the terrorist infrastructure in our neighbourhood," he said.

In October last year, Sikorski travelled to Islamabad and held wide-ranging talks with Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, following which a joint statement was issued that featured the Kashmir issue. The EAM also mentioned India's consistent position on the Ukraine conflict. "In the recent past, both in New York last September and in Paris this January, I have candidly shared with you our views on the Ukraine conflict and its implications," Jaishankar said.

"While doing so, I have also repeatedly underlined that the selective targeting of India is both unfair and unjustified. I will do so again today," he added. In his remarks, Jaishankar also talked about the upswing in India-Poland ties. "Our bilateral relationship has also progressed steadily, but nevertheless, needs constant tending," he said.

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