India flags targeting over Ukraine war, urges Poland to not fuel terrorism in neighbourhood

PTC News Desk: In a strong-worded message, External Affairs Minister S Jaishanakr on Monday firmly told Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski that Warsaw should display zero tolerance for terrorism and not help fuel terrorist infrastructure in the neighbourhood.

"Deputy Prime Minister, you are no stranger to our region and are certainly familiar with the longstanding challenge of cross-border terrorism. 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," Jaishankar said.

Following Jaishankar's tough remarks, Sikorski nodded in agreement and called on the need to counter cross-border terrorism.

"Poland, as you may have heard, has been a victim of arsons and attempted state terrorism when a Polish railway line was blown up under a moving train just very recently," he told Jaishankar.

The comments carry added weight given that Poland had raised the Kashmir issue in a joint statement with Pakistan during Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski’s visit to Islamabad in October last year. In his opening remarks at a bilateral meeting with Sikorski, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar noted that the Polish Deputy Prime Minister understood the persistent threat of cross-border terrorism in the region. 

In recent years, India has intensified diplomatic outreach to ensure European governments and institutions remain aware of Pakistan’s record of terror financing and its role as a safe haven for extremist groups.

"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. While doing so, I have also repeatedly underlined that the selective targeting of India is both unfair and unjustified. I do so again today," Jaishankar said.