New Delhi: Slamming Pakistan at an all-party meeting amid the West Asia tension on Wednesday, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said India was not a broker nation. “We are not a dalaal (Broker) nation,” PTI quoted him saying. His remark came at a time when reports surfaced that Islamabad was trying to be the mediator between United States and Iran in the conflict.
The response came even as the Opposition questioned India’s stance on the crisis in West Asia. Jaishankar added that there was “nothing new” about Pakistan’s role.
He claimed that the country had been “used” by the US since 1981. The government further added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had conveyed to US President Donald Trump that the war must end soon.
The government also dismissed the claims made by the Opposition parties that New Delhi had remained mum on the issue. The government reportedly asserted that “we are commenting and responding.”
The government pointed out that when the Iran embassy was opened, the foreign secretary visited immediately. However, Opposition leaders, were not convinced. They said the government’s replies at the meeting were “unsatisfactory”.
Congress leader Tariq Anwar said Pakistan appeared to be playing mediator while “we are still silent spectators.”
