SS: Clickbait-y title aside, there was some genuine frustration on display when the Indian foreign minister met with a delegation led by his Polish counterpart. Both men exchanged their differences on the selective application of morality and principles; with the Indian delegation expressing their disappointment in Poland expanding their relationship with Pakistan despite their support for terrorism in India, and the Polish delegation, in turn, conveyed their disappointment in India taking part in the Zapad 2025 exercise with Russia and Belarus which they found “threatening”. India also bemoaned the selective application of tariffs by the USA due to their purchases of Russian oil. This highlights a gap between proclaimed universal norms, and their selective application, which erodes the trust developing nations have on international institutions which would lead them to pursue a pragmatic foreign policy of expanding relations with illiberal regimes like Russia (and/or China).
GeopoliticsIndia on
Something that is objectively true and that Indian nationalists won’t accept: if they’re so butthurt about Pakistan occupying bits of Kashmir which acceded to India in the late 40s, then it means, on principle, they should be opposed to invading armies chilling in territories that are legally yours.
In the case of the Ukraine conflict it means India should be firmly on Ukraine’s side because the parallels are almost 1:1 – Russia is Pakistan, Ukraine is India and Eastern Ukraine/Crimea is Kashmir. It is not, which makes India extremely hypocritical. Either it is against invasions of sovereign territory or it is not.
Another objectively true statement is that Europeans (most remarkably the Poles and the Czechs) have never really been sensitive to Indian perspectives on Pakistan and Pakistani terrorism, and continue engaging with both nations as if they are one and the same. I do not understand why.
One is a functional democracy while the other has never EVER had a civilian transition of power while also exporting dangerous ideologies and terrorists everywhere.
It’s bizarre because they’re very clearly capable of drawing distinctions and treating countries differently – look at how Poland approaches Kenya/Somalia/Al-Shabaab. There’s no realpolitik justification here, but let’s assume there is.
If we want to be realists here, then while India isn’t yet asking for it, I don’t see any way this resolves unless Indias economy grows large enough where it begins actively using economic coercion against European firms that supply Pakistans military which is often funneled towards hurting or killing Indian civilians and military alike. India and Europe will never be eye to eye on this and only coercion will rectify this issue
2 Comments
SS: Clickbait-y title aside, there was some genuine frustration on display when the Indian foreign minister met with a delegation led by his Polish counterpart. Both men exchanged their differences on the selective application of morality and principles; with the Indian delegation expressing their disappointment in Poland expanding their relationship with Pakistan despite their support for terrorism in India, and the Polish delegation, in turn, conveyed their disappointment in India taking part in the Zapad 2025 exercise with Russia and Belarus which they found “threatening”. India also bemoaned the selective application of tariffs by the USA due to their purchases of Russian oil. This highlights a gap between proclaimed universal norms, and their selective application, which erodes the trust developing nations have on international institutions which would lead them to pursue a pragmatic foreign policy of expanding relations with illiberal regimes like Russia (and/or China).
Something that is objectively true and that Indian nationalists won’t accept: if they’re so butthurt about Pakistan occupying bits of Kashmir which acceded to India in the late 40s, then it means, on principle, they should be opposed to invading armies chilling in territories that are legally yours.
In the case of the Ukraine conflict it means India should be firmly on Ukraine’s side because the parallels are almost 1:1 – Russia is Pakistan, Ukraine is India and Eastern Ukraine/Crimea is Kashmir. It is not, which makes India extremely hypocritical. Either it is against invasions of sovereign territory or it is not.
Another objectively true statement is that Europeans (most remarkably the Poles and the Czechs) have never really been sensitive to Indian perspectives on Pakistan and Pakistani terrorism, and continue engaging with both nations as if they are one and the same. I do not understand why.
One is a functional democracy while the other has never EVER had a civilian transition of power while also exporting dangerous ideologies and terrorists everywhere.
It’s bizarre because they’re very clearly capable of drawing distinctions and treating countries differently – look at how Poland approaches Kenya/Somalia/Al-Shabaab. There’s no realpolitik justification here, but let’s assume there is.
If we want to be realists here, then while India isn’t yet asking for it, I don’t see any way this resolves unless Indias economy grows large enough where it begins actively using economic coercion against European firms that supply Pakistans military which is often funneled towards hurting or killing Indian civilians and military alike. India and Europe will never be eye to eye on this and only coercion will rectify this issue