ISLAMABAD: Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar drew sharp criticism from political and diplomatic leaders for his “malicious remarks” about Pakistan’s peace efforts in the ongoing US-Israel war against Iran.
The remarks were made during an all-party meeting convened by the Indian government to discuss the escalating West Asia crisis, where Jaishankar stated that India does not view itself as a ‘dalaal’ (broker) like Pakistan.
Pakistan’s mediation push
The comments come amid growing international focus on Pakistan’s role in facilitating back-channel diplomacy between the United States and Iran. Pakistan Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir recently held a telephonic conversation with US President Donald Trump, a contact confirmed by the White House.
Pakistani leadership has been acting as intermediaries between Tehran and Washington.
Islamabad is also being considered as a potential venue for a high-level US-Iran meeting later this week, with US Vice President JD Vance expected to attend if the proposal moves forward.
Pakistani leaders react
The Indian minister’s remarks triggered a sharp response from across Pakistan’s political spectrum.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif hit back, stating that Jaishankar appeared to consider himself “a hi-fi dalal” and that the comments “reflect personal frustration.”
Thinks of himself a hi fi dalal, remarks reflect personal frustration. https://t.co/2Rr5hZG6Da
— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) March 26, 2026
Murtaza Solangi, spokesperson for President Asif Ali Zardari, took to X to deliver a blistering critique.
“It seems Modi’s Dalal, Jaishankar and his cabal have lost all their marbles after May War last year,” he wrote. “Fact is that he is a Dalal of Modi who is a Dalal of Netanyahu.”
It seems the Modi’s Dalal, Babu Jaishankar and his cabal have lost all their marbles after May War last year. He seems to be infected with a self destructive virus besides a diplomatic dementia losing everything he had learnt in the diplomatic school. Fact is that he is a Dalal…
— Murtaza Solangi (@murtazasolangi) March 26, 2026
Former caretaker foreign minister Jalil Abbas Jilani condemned the language used by Jaishankar, calling it indicative of “a sick mindset.”
He added, “Reducing diplomacy to name-calling may serve domestic politics, but it does little for peace.”
Former Sindh governor Imran Ismail also weighed in, saying the comment was “strange coming from someone whose foreign policy often looks like it’s constantly for hire.”
@DrSJaishankar Strange coming from someone whose foreign policy often looks like it’s constantly for hire.
If helping mediate conflicts makes a country a “dalal,” then perhaps the real question is: india is actually selling their independence to the highest bidder,
Do you know… pic.twitter.com/kd6i64nXm7— Imran Ismail (@ImranIsmailPTI) March 26, 2026
Former power minister Khurram Dastgir Khan described the language as “reprehensible,” asserting that “Pakistan was the nemesis to Hindutva hubris in May 2025 and remains so.”
Reprehensible language by Hindutva Minister.
Pakistan was the nemesis to Hindutva hubris in May 2025 & remains so.
Hubris is rotting into calumny. https://t.co/fY9hPW8kJX
— Engr. Khurram Dastgir-Khan (HI) (@kdastgirkhan) March 26, 2026
Opposition targets Modi at home
In India, the diplomatic spat coincided with domestic criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi accused the government of isolation after siding with Israel ahead of the conflict, terming Modi and his foreign policy “compromised.”
#WATCH | Delhi | Congress MP and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi says, “I would not be able to attend because I have a program in Kerala. All-party meeting should take place, but a structural blunder has been made… And this cannot be fixed, especially the Prime Minister cannot. He… https://t.co/gAIBnSG77B pic.twitter.com/NuXDdpMuIN
— ANI (@ANI) March 24, 2026
Gandhi took particular issue with Modi’s references to the Covid pandemic in his parliamentary speeches on the West Asia crisis.
“Modi ji said Covid-like time is coming. He has forgotten what had happened then, how many people had died, and what kind of tragedies had unfolded,” he said.
Asked about reports of Pakistan mediating US-Iran talks, Gandhi asserted: “Our foreign policy is PM Modi’s personal foreign policy. You can see the results of this; everybody considers this a universal joke. PM will do what America and Israel say. He will not work in the interest of India and its farmers; he will do as America and Israel say.”
