Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has expressed alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on several major foreign policy issues, including India’s relationship with the U.S., the stance on Pakistan, concerns about extremism in Bangladesh, and India’s support for Israel. However, Gandhi diverged sharply with the Prime Minister on policies regarding China, accusing the Modi government of failing to protect Indian territory in Ladakh.
Speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, Gandhi voiced support for PM Modi’s policies toward Pakistan. “Pakistan’s instigation of terrorism in our country is holding both countries back. We are not going to accept Pakistan carrying out terror acts in our country. We’re just not going to accept it. Until they stop, there will continue to be problems between us,” Gandhi stated.
When asked if the Kashmir issue was an obstacle to dialogue between the two South Asian nations, Gandhi responded, “No.”
On India’s relationship with the United States, Gandhi acknowledged bipartisan support in both countries, highlighting continuity in India’s approach. “I don’t see a big diversion. I don’t see PM Modi diverging much from our approach with the U.S. I don’t see ourselves changing direction much from what he’s doing. So, I see continuity there,” Gandhi remarked.
He further emphasized the importance of the India-U.S. partnership, saying, “Everybody accepts the fact that the India-U.S. relationship is key for both countries.”
Gandhi also underscored that India’s internal matters should remain within the country, stating, “The fight for democracy in India is an Indian fight. It’s our problem, and we’ll take care of it. We will ensure democracy is secure.”
Commenting on the global significance of Indian democracy, he noted, “Indian democracy is more than just any normal democracy because of its size. It’s an asset not just for India but for the rest of the world.”
When asked about India’s recent support for Israel in the Middle East, Gandhi condemned the violence on both sides. “What happened on October 7 was absolutely wrong. But I also think what Israel is doing—bombing innocent civilians, killing women and children—is absolutely wrong and should not be allowed to continue. I’m against violence of any kind,” he stated.
Gandhi was critical of PM Modi’s handling of relations with China, accusing the government of failing to address the presence of Chinese troops in Indian territory. “We’ve got Chinese troops occupying land the size of Delhi in Ladakh. I think that’s a disaster. The media doesn’t like to write about it,” he said.
He added, “How would America react if a neighbor occupied 4,000 square kilometers of its territory? Would any president be able to get away with saying he handled that well? I don’t think Modi has handled China well. There’s no reason Chinese troops should be sitting in our territory.”
Regarding Bangladesh, Gandhi expressed concerns about extremist elements but voiced confidence in future relations with the country. “There are concerns in India about extremist elements in Bangladesh, and we share some of those concerns. However, I’m confident that things will stabilize in Bangladesh, and we’ll be able to maintain a relationship with the current government or any future government,” he said.
Earlier, Gandhi had discussions with U.S. lawmakers on the issue of Bangladesh, stressing the importance of curbing violence in the region. “It’s the responsibility of the Bangladeshi government to stop the violence as soon as possible, and our government must put pressure to ensure that happens,” Gandhi concluded.
