'Serious questions about self-declared Vishwaguru': Congress slams Modi govt as Pakistan mediates US-Iran peace talks

New Delhi: Congress on Saturday targeted the Modi government for the emergence of Pakistan as a mediator between the United States and Iran to resolve the crisis in West Asia, claiming that "serious questions" has risen about the "substance and style of the self-declared Vishwaguru’s huglomacy".

The remarks came as Islamabad hosted a US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance and an Iranian team led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf in efforts to find a resolution to the ongoing conflict.

Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh said the entire world, including India, is hoping that this is the beginning of a durable peace process between the two countries that will "not get derailed" by Israel’s continuing aggression in its neighbourhood. 

"But serious questions about the substance and style of the self-declared Vishwaguru’s ‘huglomacy’ arise. How has Pakistan managed to carve out a new role for itself despite its role in the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack of April 2025 and the diplomatic engagement India mounted to isolate it following the attacks?" he posted on 'X'.

This "failure is especially damning" because the Manmohan Singh government had "very effectively isolated" Pakistan after the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008, he said.

He asked how has India allowed the US to accord Pakistan this new role even after the 'Namaste Trump', 'Howdy Modi' and 'Phir Ek Baar Trump Sarkar' campaigns of "Modi and his cheerleaders".

India also agreed to a very clearly one-sided trade deal where it gave much more than what it could get and yet the Modi Government failed to gain any leverage with the US, he claimed.

"⁠Why didn’t India as the current President of BRICS+ launch any peace or mediation initiative - especially since Iran, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia are members of the BRICs+? ⁠What has India gained from its calibrated capitulation to China in the past eighteen months  - especially in view of China’s pivotal role in Pakistan’s response to Operation Sindoor and its continued propping up of Pakistan?" he said.

"Peace in West Asia must return quickly. The Strait of Hormuz must once again revert to the situation that prevailed before the US-Israel assault on Iran began on Feb 28th - a mere two days after Mr.Modi had completed a most ill-advised and ill-timed visit to Israel," he said.