The Congress party on Saturday demanded that the Narendra Modi government explain why Russia, once regarded as one of India’s most reliable strategic allies, has chosen to ignore New Delhi’s appeals and proceed with supplying advanced RD-93MA engines for Pakistan’s fleet of Chinese-made JF-17 fighter jets.
In a social media post on X, Congress General Secretary for Communications Jairam Ramesh criticized the government’s diplomatic failures, accusing Prime Minister Modi of prioritizing personal image-building and global spectacle over national interests. He pointed out that despite several interventions, including one by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in June 2025, Russia’s support for Pakistan continues, reports Indian daily The Hindu and regional agencies.
“Russia, once India’s closest ally, has opted to ignore New Delhi’s requests and is now moving forward with supplying RD-93MA engines for the JF-17, a Chinese-made fighter jet,” Ramesh said.
He referred to multiple reports suggesting the advanced engine would be installed on the latest Block III variant of the JF-17, which is believed to have been used in attacks against India during Operation Sindoor. “The IAF chief has also indicated that the JF-17 may be one of the aircrafts used by Pakistan in these operations,” he added.
The Congress leader expressed concerns over Russia’s military support to Pakistan, even as India continues to purchase S-400 missile systems and negotiates for Su-57 stealth fighters from Moscow. “This situation highlights another failure of Prime Minister Modi’s personalized diplomacy, which places more importance on global posturing than securing national interests,” he said.
Ramesh also claimed that years of high-profile summits and photo ops have failed to achieve substantial outcomes, leaving India unable to diplomatically isolate Pakistan. He emphasized that while India’s diplomatic efforts falter, Pakistan’s military leadership, including Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, continues to receive international support from both Russia and China.
