Lack of consistency in India's foreign policy and government adopts ad hoc approach

India does not have a consistent foreign policy and the Central Government is adopting an ad hoc approach, said former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid. According to a report by The Hindu, during the Bharat Summit 2026 organised at HICC, Hyderabad on Friday, Khurshid sharply criticised the Narendra Modi government's foreign policy. He alleged that the country lacks a well-organised and structured approach towards international relations.

Speaking to journalists alongside Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and his cabinet colleagues, Khurshid said the government does not appear to have any consistent policy framework. He added that there is no structure in this policy and the government does not think two steps ahead. The government is changing from one policy to another very easily, he stated. According to Khurshid, continuity, strategic vision, and clarity are extremely essential for foreign policy.

Referring to India's relations with America, Iran, Russia, and China, Khurshid said that the government's approach is becoming increasingly pragmatic or transactional instead of being driven by long-term national interests. He also raised questions regarding India's reaction to the incident of an Iranian ship sinking in the country's near maritime borders. Furthermore, he noted that India's traditional close ties with Russia also appeared to be under strain at times.

Speaking on China, Khurshid stated that India should maintain friendly relations, but there should be no compromise with the country's sovereignty and dignity. He accused the government of failing to provide clarity on several important questions of foreign policy and avoiding meaningful discussion on this matter in Parliament. He emphasised that democratic institutions should provide space for debate, investigation, and accountability.

Defending the Bharat Summit, Khurshid said that this summit provides an opportunity to deliberate on important policy issues including foreign policy, climate change, and global development. Comparing it with the World Economic Forum held in Davos, he said that Hyderabad should emerge as another important international centre for the exchange of economic policy, development, and global affairs. He expressed hope that Hyderabad would become a hub for policy discourse, exchange, and discussions, so that the world is not governed by only one centre.

Khurshid further added that the Bharat Summit should be seen as an opportunity for India to engage with various political, economic, and ideological perspectives. The international nature of this event is proven by the fact that political parties in power in several countries also participated in it.

Salman Khurshid is the Chairman of the Congress Foreign Affairs Department. He has served as India's former External Affairs Minister.