We don’t get into ‘punch scoring’, says Jaishankar on ties with neighbours

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar defends India's neighbourhood policy, emphasizing the importance of mature relations with neighbouring countries.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday (December 13, 2024) defended the neighbourhood policy of the government and said that it is necessary to avoid “punch scoring” in relations with neighbours.

Mr. Jaishankar said that the government has promoted development projects and trade that have helped sustain ties with neighbours. His remarks came in response to a question from Congress’ Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari who said that the current status of India’s relationship with the Maldives, Bangladesh and Nepal presented a challenging scenario.

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“Our neighbours also have their politics. There are ups and downs in their countries, it will have implication for us. It is important that we are mature and we do not get into punch scoring,” the Minister said while responding to the Congress MP.

“India was the eighth country that the new President of the Maldives visited after being elected on an oust-India campaign and that too under very severe economic compulsions. China was the first country that the new Prime Minister of Nepal visited and signed off on the belt and road initiative,” said Mr. Tewari, stating that China has an upper hand in relation with India’s neighbours.

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He further said, “Bangladesh continues to be in turmoil. My question, therefore, Mr Minister is, that while India may have a neighbourhood first policy, is there any neighbour of India’s that has India-first policy?”