On Rahul Gandhi's 'China-Pakistan are closer' remarks, US says 'won't endorse'

Union ministers on Wednesday hit out at Rahul Gandhi's remarks that the Modi government brought China and Pakistan together. The Congress leader made the comments during the debate in the Lok Sabha on the motion of thanks on the President Ram Nath Kovind's address.

A day after Congress president Rahul Gandhi said in his Parliament speech that China and Pakistan are closer because of the policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said he “won’t endorse” those remarks.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi speaks in Lok Sabha during the Budget Session of Parliament on Wednesday. (ANI Photo)

“I'll leave it to Pakistanis and PRC to speak to their relationship,” Price further said at a press briefing.

Watch: 'Do not underestimate...', Rahul warns Modi govt of China's threat

Gandhi’s remarks were slammed by Union ministers, with external affairs minister S Jaishankar saying he needs some "some history lessons”. Jaishankar also said that Pakistan illegally handed over the Shaksgam Valley to China in 1963, when a Congress government was in office.

"Rahul Gandhi alleged in Lok Sabha that it is this Government which brought Pakistan and China together. Perhaps, some history lessons are in order: In 1963,Pakistan illegally handed over the Shaksgam valley to China. China built the Karakoram highway through PoK in the 1970s," Jaishankar said in a tweet on Wednesday.

Taunting Gandhi over his frequent foreign visits, Jaishankar further said that "those who live in India know we were in the midst of a corona wave" and added that India held a virtual summit with presidents of five central Asian countries.

Jaishankar asked if Rahul Gandhi also missed the India-Central Asia Summit held on January 27.

Koo App

समझ से परे है कि राहुल गांधी भारत विरोधी बयान क्यों देते है??? उन्हें ये क्यों नहीं दिखता की मोदी सरकार की सजगता के कारण ही पाकिस्तान-चीन की गलतनीतियों पर सभी देश लामबंद है और समय-समय पर उन्हें आइना दिखाते रहते है अब तो राहुल ’जी’ की नियति पर अमेरिकी अधिकारी भी सवाल उठा रहे है

- Kailash Vijayvargiya (@KailashOnline) 3 Feb 2022

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi called Gandhi a "confused and mindless" leader who is all "praise" for China.

While replying the debate on President Ram Nath Kovind's address to Parliament, Rahul Gandhi said in his speech on Wednesday that the government has brought China and Pakistan together.

"The Chinese have a very clear vision of what they want to do. The single biggest strategic goal of India's foreign policy has been to keep Pakistan and China separate. What you have done is, you have brought them together," he said.

"Do not be under any illusion, do not underestimate the force that is standing in front of you. You have brought Pakistan and China together. This is the single biggest crime that you could commit against the people of India," he added.