"India's Diplomacy receives 3 huge setbacks at hands of US": Congress' Jairam Ramesh

New Delhi [India], June 12 (ANI): Congress Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh on Thursday stated that India's Diplomacy received three "huge" setbacks at the hands of the United States and termed them "challenges" which need a "collective" response.

Ramesh, who is the General Secretary in charge of Communications of the Congress Party, said that New Delhi received three setbacks---- US Central Command statement on Pakistan being a phenomenal partner, Asim Munir getting an invitation to the US Army Day on June 14th, and the reiteration by the US State Department spokesperson on the role of President Trump and Secretary of State Rubio in bringing an end to Operation Sindoor.

"Yesterday, Indian diplomacy received three huge setbacks at the hands of the United States. It raises severe, serious questions on the US policy. First setback, US Central Command: There are 11 unified commands. US Central Command is Florida-based; its head, General Michael Kurilla, said Pakistan is their phenomenal partner in counterterrorism. Pakistan is a phenomenal partner. Pakistan, where Osama bin Laden was found hiding for 10 years and he was killed on the 2nd of May 2011 in Abbottabad in Pakistan. Pakistan is a phenomenal counterterrorism partner. It's a bizarre statement from the top American general, the first setback," Ramesh told ANI.

This came after the US Central Command chief, Gen Michael Kurilla, described Pakistan as a “phenomenal partner” in counter-terrorism during a hearing by the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.

"Second setback, Field Marshal Asim Munir. He gets an invitation to the US Army Day on June 14th. This is the same Asim Munir who was a few days before the April 22 brutal terrorist attack at Pahalgam. He uses the most incendiary and provocative language, going back to the 1940s, talking of the two-nation theory. Inflammatory comments were made by General Asim Munir, and I think that gave oxygen and led to the terror attacks, and that same Asim Munir is getting an invitation to the US Army Day on June 14th," he added.

"The third setback: the US State Department spokesperson once again reiterates that President Trump brought about engagement between India and Pakistan. She repeated what President Trump has been saying, and she talked about Marco Rubio's role, the Congress leader stated, demanding the Prime Minister call an all-party meeting.

Underlining the significance of taking political parties into confidence, Ramesh said, "The Prime Minister has met all the MPs who have gone on delegations. He should meet the leaders of the opposition parties. Call the opposition parties; take them into confidence. He should have a special session of parliament. These are challenges. We have to sit together. We have to have a collective response, a collective will. How is that coming about? It will come only through all-party meetings. It will come only through the parliament sessions. I mean the Prime Minister should stop playing politics, start doing governance, and take opposition parties, not individuals – the anchor of our system is political parties, not individuals. Take political parties and their leaders into confidence."

Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir is reportedly set to arrive in Washington, DC, following an invitation from his American counterpart to participate in the US Army's 250th anniversary celebrations. The main festivities for the US Army parade will be held on Saturday, June 14, coinciding with US President Donald Trump's birthday, The News reported.

The US Army's 250th anniversary will be marked with a large-scale festival and parade in Washington on Saturday, June 14. The event is expected to feature approximately 6,600 soldiers, 150 military vehicles, and over 50 aircraft. (ANI)