India raises concerns with Poland over unfair trade targeting linked to Russia and warns against supporting Pakistan in cross-border terrorism.
New Delhi: India has raised strong objections with Poland over what it termed the “selective and unfair targeting” of New Delhi due to its trade ties with Moscow, citing tariffs and other pressure measures amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar also cautioned Warsaw against providing any support, direct or indirect, to Pakistan in matters related to cross-border terrorism.
Jaishankar discussed India’s concerns during a meeting with Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski in New Delhi. The two leaders reviewed the growing India-Poland Strategic Partnership and exchanged views on key regional and global developments.
Welcoming the Polish delegation, Jaishankar emphasized that the talks were taking place during a period of “considerable churn” in global affairs, underlining the importance of dialogue between countries across regions. He highlighted that India and Poland, which elevated their ties to a strategic partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Warsaw in August 2024, would review the Action Plan 2024-28 and explore deeper cooperation in trade, investment, defence, security, clean technology, and digital innovation.
Russia-Ukraine Conflict
The discussion soon turned to geopolitics, particularly the Ukraine war. Jaishankar stated that he had “candidly” shared India’s position with Sikorski on multiple occasions, including meetings in New York and Paris, and reiterated it in New Delhi.
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He stressed that the selective targeting of India is both unfair and unjustified. New Delhi has consistently expressed concern over pressure tactics aimed at influencing its independent foreign policy on the Ukraine conflict and has emphasized its commitment to dialogue and diplomacy rather than being drawn into bloc-based positions.
Cross-Border Terrorism Concerns
Another key issue raised by Jaishankar was cross-border terrorism, a longstanding concern for India. He noted that Sikorski, familiar with regional challenges, should recognize the risks posed by terrorism emanating from across India’s borders.
Jaishankar urged Poland to adopt “zero tolerance for terrorism” and avoid actions that could fuel terrorist infrastructure in India’s neighborhood, a clear reference to Pakistan. India has recently intensified diplomatic efforts in Europe to keep countries alert to Pakistan’s involvement in terrorism financing and safe havens for extremist groups.
“Poland should display zero tolerance for terrorists and not help fuel terrorist infrastructure in our neighborhood,” Jaishankar said, referring in part to Poland’s earlier statements on Kashmir during a visit to Islamabad in October 2025.
Poland’s Response
Sikorski broadly echoed India’s concerns, acknowledging the unfairness of selective targeting through tariffs and warning that such practices could disrupt global trade. He also shared Poland’s experiences with arson and attempted state terrorism, including attacks on critical infrastructure, and agreed on the need to combat cross-border terrorism.
Bilateral Ties
The meeting highlighted the rapidly growing India-Poland relationship. Poland is one of India’s largest trading partners in Central Europe, with bilateral trade at around USD 7 billion and Indian investments exceeding USD 3 billion. Both sides expressed confidence that their strategic partnership would continue to deepen, even as India clearly articulated its red lines on geopolitical pressure and terrorism.