New Delhi, Jan 19, 2026 — India on Monday delivered a firm and unusually candid message to Poland on two sensitive geopolitical issues: terrorism linked to Pakistan and what New Delhi sees as Europe’s selective pressure on India over the Ukraine conflict. External affairs minister S Jaishankar used his opening televised remarks during talks with Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski to underline India’s red lines, signalling that strategic partnerships cannot coexist with ambiguity on terrorism or unequal standards in global politics.

The meeting came against the backdrop of heightened geopolitical churn, with the war in Ukraine entering another prolonged phase and tensions in South Asia remaining unresolved due to cross-border terrorism. Jaishankar’s comments made clear that while India values its growing partnership with Poland, it expects greater sensitivity to its core security concerns.

Zero tolerance for terrorism, no ambiguity on Kashmir

Jaishankar’s first and most pointed message related to terrorism and Poland’s recent diplomatic engagement with Pakistan. Without directly naming Islamabad in his opening remarks, the Indian foreign minister made it clear that New Delhi expects Warsaw to show “zero tolerance for terrorism” and not “help fuel terrorist infrastructure” in India’s neighbourhood.

“I hope at this meeting to discuss some of your recent travels to the region,” Jaishankar said, adding that Poland should display a firm stance against terrorism in all its forms. The remarks were widely interpreted as a direct response to a joint statement issued by Poland and Pakistan in October 2025, following Sikorski’s visit to Islamabad.

That joint statement had referred to the “Kashmir dispute” and emphasised the importance of dialogue and cooperation to address regional security challenges in South Asia. While it also condemned terrorism and said no state should provide safe haven to terrorists, the inclusion of Kashmir and generalised language on security triggered strong unease in New Delhi.

For India, any reference to Kashmir in joint statements involving Pakistan is a diplomatic red flag. New Delhi has consistently maintained that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and that all outstanding issues with Pakistan must be resolved bilaterally, without third-party involvement. India has also repeatedly accused Pakistan of using terrorism as an instrument of state policy, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir.

Jaishankar’s remarks sought to remove any ambiguity on this front. By stressing zero tolerance for terrorism and warning against fuelling terrorist infrastructure, India signalled that it expects partners like Poland to factor in New Delhi’s long-standing concerns when engaging with Pakistan.

Pushback against Europe’s “selective targeting” over Ukraine

Jaishankar’s second blunt message was directed at European criticism of India’s stance on the Ukraine war, particularly with regard to energy imports from Russia. He described the “selective targeting” of India by some European states as unfair and unjustified, a criticism he said he had raised candidly in previous meetings with Sikorski as well.

The issue had surfaced earlier this month during a meeting of the Weimar Triangle Plus format in Paris, where Sikorski had expressed satisfaction at India’s reduction of Russian oil imports, arguing that such purchases were financing Russia’s war machine. New Delhi has bristled at such public remarks, viewing them as an attempt to pressure India while ignoring Europe’s own continued economic engagement with Russia in various forms.

Jaishankar recalled his meetings with Sikorski in New York in September 2025 and in Paris earlier this month, saying he had consistently explained India’s position on the Ukraine conflict and its wider implications. “While doing so, I have repeatedly underlined that the selective targeting of India is both unfair and unjustified,” he said.

When Sikorski responded by agreeing on the unfairness of selective targeting by tariffs, Jaishankar clarified that his concern went beyond trade measures. “Selective targeting is not limited to tariffs,” he said, indicating that political messaging and diplomatic signalling were also part of the problem.

India has maintained a careful balance on Ukraine, calling for dialogue and diplomacy while avoiding direct condemnation of Russia. New Delhi argues that its position reflects strategic autonomy and the interests of the Global South, including the need to ensure affordable energy for a developing economy. Indian officials have also pointed out that Europe’s own economic ties with Russia did not end overnight after the war began, and that singling out India ignores these realities.

Poland acknowledges concerns, seeks common ground

In his response, Sikorski struck a conciliatory tone. He said he agreed with Jaishankar on the need to counter trans-border terrorism and noted that Poland itself had been a victim of acts resembling state terrorism. He referred to incidents of arson and sabotage, including the recent blowing up of a Polish railway line under a moving train.

“I also completely agree with you on the unfairness of selective targeting by tariffs, and we in Europe have known something about that,” Sikorski said, signalling understanding of India’s broader argument even if differences remain.

Later, at a media briefing, Sikorski acknowledged that the Indian side had raised concerns about Pakistan and terrorism, while Poland had discussed India’s participation in the Zapad military exercise hosted by Russia last year. “On terrorism, we are of one mind,” he said, adding that both India and Poland condemn the crossing of international borders “either by tanks or by terrorists”.

The formulation was seen as an attempt to draw a parallel between territorial aggression in Ukraine and cross-border terrorism faced by India, without explicitly equating the two situations. Sikorski also expressed confidence that India would be among the countries urging the perpetrator of aggression against Ukraine to seek a peaceful settlement.

Strategic partnership continues despite tough talk

Despite the blunt exchanges, both sides emphasised the strength and potential of India-Poland relations. The meeting reviewed the bilateral action plan for 2024–28 and explored ways to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, defence, security, clean technologies and digital innovation.

Poland is one of India’s largest trading partners in Central Europe. Two-way trade currently stands at around $7 billion and has grown by nearly 200% over the past decade. Indian investments in Poland have crossed $3 billion, and Jaishankar highlighted India’s economic growth, large market and pro-investment policies as key opportunities for Polish businesses.

Poland has also backed the proposed India-European Union free trade agreement, negotiations for which are expected to be concluded during the India-EU Summit in New Delhi on January 27. This support gives Warsaw additional weight in New Delhi’s European calculus, even as India remains firm on its core political and security positions.

A more assertive Indian diplomacy

Jaishankar’s remarks to his Polish counterpart underscore a broader shift in India’s foreign policy style. New Delhi is increasingly willing to articulate its disagreements openly, even with partners and friends, rather than confining such messages to closed-door diplomacy.

By linking Kyiv and Kashmir in his messaging, Jaishankar highlighted what India sees as a fundamental inconsistency in parts of Europe’s approach: strong condemnation of violations of sovereignty in Europe, coupled with ambivalence or moral equivalence when it comes to terrorism and territorial issues affecting India.

The meeting with Poland thus served as both a reminder and a warning. Strategic partnerships, India made clear, require not just economic cooperation and shared interests, but also respect for each other’s core concerns — especially on terrorism and sovereign decision-making in an increasingly fragmented world order.