The North News
New Delhi, January 20
External Affairs Minister, Dr S Jaishankar, has urged Poland to adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism, warning against any actions that could fuel terrorist infrastructure in India’s neighbourhood. Speaking during talks with Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister in New Delhi, Dr Jaishankar said Warsaw was familiar with the long-standing challenge of cross-border terrorism in South Asia. He added that recent developments in the region and the Polish leader’s travels there would form part of their discussions.
Welcoming the Polish delegation, Dr Jaishankar said the meeting was taking place at a time of significant global uncertainty. He stressed the importance of exchanging views between countries facing different regional challenges, while noting that India-Poland ties had progressed steadily but required continuous engagement.
India and Poland have traditionally shared warm and friendly relations, he said, marked in recent years by high-level political exchanges and expanding economic and people-to-people links. He recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Poland in August 2024 had elevated bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership.
Dr Jaishankar noted that Poland is one of India’s largest trading partners in Central Europe, with bilateral trade standing at about $7bn (£5.5bn), a nearly 200% increase over the past decade. Indian investment in Poland has crossed $3bn, creating jobs, while India’s strong economic growth and investment-friendly policies offer new opportunities for Polish businesses.
The minister also highlighted cultural ties, including the historic link of the ‘Dobry Maharaj’, youth exchanges, the growing popularity of yoga and the continued interest in Indology in Poland.
Regional and global developments, including the war in Ukraine, were also discussed. Dr Jaishankar said he had previously shared India’s views on the conflict and reiterated concerns about what he described as the selective targeting of India, calling it unfair and unjustified.
