Russian Weapons Fail in Ukraine? Poland’s Pro-Pakistan Foreign Minister Takes a Jab at India, Expert Sets the Record Straight

Warsaw/New Delhi: Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski recently attempted to take a dig at India over its purchase of Russian military hardware, claiming that these weapons have underperformed in the ongoing Ukraine war. Sikorski, whose country has historically maintained strong ties with Pakistan, suggested that India’s reliance on Russian arms has been misplaced.

The remarks come on the heels of India opposing Russian oil imports, after which Sikorski reportedly mocked India’s defense acquisitions. However, former Indian Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal has publicly refuted these claims, emphasizing that the Russian equipment procured by India has proven highly effective in real operations.

Sibal Sets the Record Straight
Sibal posted on social media platform X, stating, “Russian military equipment has been extremely valuable to India. The BrahMos missile system is formidable, and the S-400 air defense system performed exceptionally during Operation Sindur.” He further noted that Russian missiles’ range and accuracy, along with indigenous Indian systems, demonstrated their capabilities in strategic operations.

He questioned Sikorski’s timeline, asking, “How have weapons purchased by India during its non-aligned period suddenly failed in Ukraine? Are we still living in the past?” Sibal highlighted that the S-400 achieved a world record by targeting Pakistan’s surveillance AWACS aircraft from 314 kilometers, while BrahMos missiles executed precise strikes on 11 Pakistani airbases, underscoring the effectiveness of India’s defense arsenal.

Poland-Pakistan Nexus Under Scrutiny
Sikorski’s comments reflect Poland’s continued warmth toward Pakistan, despite Indian criticism during bilateral talks last month. India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had openly challenged Poland on its support for Pakistan, particularly regarding cross-border terrorism. Yet, Poland’s foreign policy tilt remains apparent, as evidenced by Sikorski’s latest attempt to undermine India’s defense procurement strategy.

Experts point out that while Russian weapons have faced challenges in the Ukraine conflict due to operational and logistical factors, India’s integration of these systems with indigenous capabilities has proven highly successful, dispelling any doubts about their efficacy.