Every noble attempt for peace with Pakistan met with hostility, betrayal: PM Modi

New Delhi: Accusing Pakistan of waging a proxy war against India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that every attempt by India to foster peace has been met with “hostility and betrayal” by its neighbour, which has become the “epicenter of turmoil” for the entire world.

“What kind of ideology thrives on bloodshed and export of terror?” Modi said in a freewheeling interview with American podcaster

Lex Friedman released on Sunday.

Citing his visit to Lahore and invitation extended to the former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif for his swearing-in ceremony in 2014, Modi said his efforts to improve ties with Islamabad did not yield desired results.

“Every noble attempt at fostering peace was met with hostility and betrayal,” Modi said, accusing Pakistan of not choosing the path of harmonious co-existence after Partition.

Modi’s comments on Indo-Pak ties come just days after Pakistan stepped up its rhetoric against India in the wake of deadly attack and hostage crisis on a Quetta-Peshawar train by Baloch rebels.

The ties between the two neighbours have remained frozen since August 2019 when Islamabad made New Delhi withdraw India’s High Commissioner to Pakistan in the wake of abrogation of Article 370 from J&K. Pakistan also did not send its newly appointed High Commissioner to New Delhi.

In the podcast, Modi, when asked to comment on India’s relations with China, acknowledged ongoing border disputes between the two nations while mentioning the 2020 border skirmishes in eastern Ladakh that created “significant tension between our countries”.

“However, after my recent meeting with President Xi, we have seen a return to normalcy at the border. We are now working to restore conditions to how they were before 2020,” Modi added, expressing confidence the trust-building efforts will surely bear fruits.

The broadcast of Modi’s interview coincides with the arrival of top diplomats, including the Ukrainian foreign minister, in New Delhi for the Raisina Dialogue, the annual multilateral conference organised by India. Speaking on the peace efforts to bring about a truce in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, Modi said discussions should include both Russia and Ukraine and a resolution would come if both sides come to the negotiating table.

“The current situation presents an opportunity for meaningful and productive talks between Ukraine and Russia,” he said. The new While House administration under US President Donald Trump has been nudging the warring sides to work out a detente.

Ties with Trump

Modi said he connects well with Trump because like him the US president believes in putting the country’s national interests above everything else. Hailing Trump as a man of courage, Modi said Trump appeared far more prepared in his second term.