India looking for partners, not preachers: EAM Jaishankar's swipe at Europe

Taking a swipe at the European Union for suggesting restraint vis-a-vis Pakistan, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said India was looking for partners, "not preachers", and some of Europe is "still struggling with that problem".

When asked what India expects from Europe, he said: "When we look out at the world, we look for partners; we do not look for preachers, particularly preachers who do not practice at home and preach abroad. I think some of Europe is still struggling with that problem. Some of it has changed."




Europe has entered a certain zone of reality check. Now whether they are able to step up to it or not, it is something we will have to see," Jaishankar said at the Arctic Circle India Forum organised here by ORF. On Friday, EU's High Representative Kaja Kallas said she has spoken to Jaishankar and Pakistani foreign minister Ishaq Dar and asked them to de-escalate.

Jaishankar emphasised India's advocacy of "Russia realism". "Just like I am an advocate of Russian realism, I am also an advocate of American realism. I think the best way to engage today's America is also through finding mutuality of interests rather than putting ideological differences upfront and then allowing it to cloud the possibilities of working together," he said.