From Operation Sindoor to Bangladesh War, Poland Shows Support for Pakistan; Jaishankar Calls It Out

New Delhi/Warsaw: During high-level talks in New Delhi, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar directly criticized Poland for its repeated support of Pakistan. Speaking to Poland’s Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski on Monday, Jaishankar emphasized that India expects its partners not to promote terrorist infrastructure in neighboring countries.

Poland, in turn, expressed concerns over India’s growing military ties with Russia. However, Jaishankar focused on Poland’s long-standing support for Pakistan, which he described as “historically consistent” despite global developments.

Jaishankar’s Message to Poland
Jaishankar told Sikorski, “Poland should show zero tolerance toward terrorism and must not aid in strengthening terrorist infrastructure in our neighborhood.” Noting Sikorski’s past experience as a journalist covering the Afghanistan war (1986–1989) and his extended time in Pakistan, Jaishankar pointed out that the Polish minister is “well aware of the long-standing challenge of cross-border terrorism in this region.”

Poland’s Historical Support for Pakistan
Geopolitical expert Shriparna Pathak, a professor at O.P. Jindal University, highlighted Poland’s historical military support to Pakistan. She noted that in 1947, Poland provided critical technical assistance to the newly formed Pakistan, including sending a group of Polish airmen under Władysław Turowicz to help establish the Pakistan Air Force.

Pathak further cited Poland’s assistance before the 1965 India-Pakistan war, exporting artillery, ammunition, and small arms to Pakistan, and later providing military training in Warsaw. During the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, Poland distanced itself from the UN vote condemning Pakistan, helping Islamabad avoid diplomatic isolation.

Expert Analysis
Indian geopolitical expert Swati Rao, consulting for the Ministry of Defence’s Industrial Corridor project, commented on the Jaishankar-Sikorski discussions. Rao noted that understanding the historical context is crucial: many Polish airmen who served in the British Royal Air Force during World War II could not return to Soviet-occupied Poland and later contributed to Pakistan’s emerging military and space programs. Turowicz, a distinguished Polish pilot, became a founding figure in Pakistan’s space and missile initiatives. However, Rao emphasized that these were individual contributions rather than official Polish government policy.

Growing India-Poland Relations Despite Tensions
Despite diplomatic tensions over Pakistan, India-Poland trade has grown significantly over the past decade. Bilateral trade has risen by 200% to $7 billion, with plans to enhance direct flights, commerce, and technology cooperation. This visit by Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister is part of a broader European tour, including engagements with the German Chancellor and France’s National Security Advisor.