India Asserts Concerns to Poland Over Trade Pressures and Terrorism

India has voiced strong concerns to Poland regarding the "selective and unfair targeting" it faces related to its trade ties with Russia amid the ongoing conflict involving Ukraine. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar cautioned Poland against any support to Pakistan, directly or indirectly, regarding cross-border terrorism.

In a pivotal meeting in New Delhi with Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, both officials evaluated the rapidly growing India-Poland Strategic Partnership. They focused on enhancing cooperation across various sectors, including trade, investment, defense, security, clean technology, and digital innovation.

Jaishankar underscored the importance of this dialogue amidst global turmoil, recalling that India and Poland elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership in August 2024. They also discussed the upcoming review of the Action Plan for 2024-28, aiming to deepen collaboration.

The conversation turned to geopolitical issues, specifically the Ukraine crisis, where Jaishankar reiterated India's consistent position on international platforms, including those in New York and Paris. He stressed that the selective targeting of India's independent foreign policy regarding the Ukraine situation is both unjust and unwarranted, advocating for dialogue over bloc-based stances.

A significant point raised was cross-border terrorism, a persistent issue for India. Jaishankar reminded Minister Sikorski of the security challenges India encounters beyond its borders and stressed the need for Poland to uphold a strict zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism. He conveyed that Poland should refrain from supporting any terrorist networks operating in India’s vicinity, hinting indirectly at Pakistan.

Recently, India has intensified its diplomatic initiatives to notify European nations and organizations about Pakistan’s involvement in financing terrorism and sheltering extremist groups. The clear message was that while India cherishes its expanding partnership with Poland and the EU, it expects unwavering and principled opposition to terrorism.

Jaishankar’s insistence on Poland’s zero-tolerance towards terrorism is also perceived as a response to previous remarks made by Poland regarding Kashmir during its October 2025 visit to Islamabad.

Minister Sikorski acknowledged India’s concerns, agreeing that unfair tariff practices could disrupt global trade. He also shared insights on Poland’s own experiences with terrorism, citing recent arson incidents and railway sabotage, and emphasized the necessity of international collaboration to combat cross-border terrorism.

This meeting underscores the steadily strengthening economic and strategic alliance between India and Poland. As one of India’s major trading partners in Central Europe, bilateral trade is approaching USD 7 billion, with Indian investments exceeding USD 3 billion. Both nations expressed optimism for the ongoing growth of their strategic partnership, even as India clearly delineated its stance on geopolitical pressures and terrorism.