Operation Sindoor Debate: Jaishankar Defends China Visit

Jaishankar on Monday defended his China visit, arguing that he carried the agenda of India’s national interests while castigating the Opposition

By MANISH ANAND

NEW DELHI, July 28, 2025 — Union Minister for External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Monday defended his China visit while taking part in discussion on Operation Sindoor. Jaishankar asserted that the global community stood with India in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.

“I went to China to talk de-escalation and for trade talks,” asserted Jaishankar. Earlier, the Congress accused Jaishankar of visiting China at a time when military heads on record accused China of actively helping Pakistan in conflicts with India.

Jaishankar was recently in China for Foreign Ministers’ Conference of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). China is currently the chair of the SCO. Jaishankar also called on Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit.

Congress MP Deepender Hooda questioned Jaishankar visiting China while Beijing was actively collaborating with Pakistan against India. Other Opposition MPs also questioned India’s silence on China actively supporting Pakistan during the conflicts in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack.

“China-Pakistan military collaborations dates back at least six decades ago. It began in 1966. The nuclear collaborations between China and Pakistan were at the peak in 1976,” said Jaishankar.

The Minister asserted that the Opposition Congress had been the principal proponent of ‘CHINDIA’. “It was in 2006 that India recognised China as a strategic partner during the visit of then Chinese President Hu Jintao,” said Jaishakar.

The minister also took potshots at leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. “At the time when Indian military was confronting the Chinese at the border in the aftermath of the Doklam skirmish, the Opposition leader was talking briefing not from the Indian Army or the Ministry of External Affairs but the Chinese ambassador in New Delhi,” alleged Jaishankar.

The minister also accused the Congress that the India-Pakistan hyphenation took place in years after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. “At the Sharm-el-Sheikh Summit, India and Pakistan declarations admitted both nations being victims of terrorism. The declaration also made reference to Balochistan. The hyphenation took place when the Congress led the government,” alleged Jaishankar.

The minister asserted that the achievement of the Indian diplomacy in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack can be seen in the US designation of The Resistance Front, an affiliate of the lashkar-e-Taiybba, as a terror outfit. “The Quad and BRICS also condemned the Pahalgam terror attack unequivocally,” said Jaishankar.

He also rejected claims that the Indian parliamentary delegations were unsuccessful in portraying Pakistan as patron of terrorism. “Foreign Ministers met with the delegations. You go and look at their tweets,” said Jaishankar.

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About The Author

Manish Anand

Manish Anand is a senior journalist with more than two decades of hardcore reporting on beats such as Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament, BJP, Congress, Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, and scores of Union Ministries.

His past has been with The New Indian Express, The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle, and The Statesman.

For about 15 years, Manish was also a regular commentator and host for talks on AIR on foreign affairs.

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