India rejects Pakistan comparison on West Asia mediation

India's envoy to China, Vikram Doraiswami, on Saturday rejected any comparison between India and Pakistan on mediating in the West Asia conflict, saying countries should decide for themselves whether such a role serves their interests. He said India was willing to contribute to wider questions of peace and security, but did not see mediation in the current situation benefiting it.

Speaking at the World Peace Forum in Beijing, organised by Tsinghua University, Doraiswami also said India's position in recent crises in West Asia and eastern Europe had been quite similar to China's. He added that he did not see either India or China "actually stepping forward to offer mediatory services".

Responding to a question from a Chinese journalist about India's role in global leadership and Islamabad's attempts to mediate in the Iran-US conflict, Doraiswami said, "I think the comparison, if I might be a little direct, with Pakistan, is a little unfair. I think the economy in the two countries will tell you a lot."

He said countries should be judged by their place and role in the global system. "We should look at countries according to what they are and what they are actually doing in the larger global system," he said, adding that "India's integration with the globe is at a level not matched by most countries".

"This includes the idea of economic integration with European countries, with Asian countries, our willingness to contribute to larger questions of peace and security," he said. "We're willing to do all of this. The question about mediation that you're talking about, this is one that, you know, it is for individual countries to decide whether that adds value to their larger national position." He added, "We have done our bit of that in the past. I don't see how that, at this point of time and what is already a crowded field, would benefit us in any particular way."

Drawing a parallel between India and China on the Iran and Ukraine conflicts, Doraiswami said, "As far as I see it, our position in recent crises, both in West Asia or even in East Europe, has been quite similar to that of China." Earlier, he took part in a discussion on protectionism and global governance at the forum. Overall, Doraiswami said India remained ready to contribute on issues of peace and security, but any decision on mediation would depend on whether it served the country's wider interests.

With PTI Inputs