New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a podcast interview with Lex Fridman, said he had invited Pakistan’s leadership to his first swearing-in ceremony in 2014 as a “gesture of goodwill” but lamented that his sincere efforts were repeatedly met with “hostility and betrayal.” The prime minister opened up about India’s historical and ongoing challenges with Pakistan, highlighting his personal attempts to foster peace between the two nations.
“My first attempt at improving bilateral relations was when I invited my Pakistani counterpart to my swearing-in. It was a diplomatic gesture unlike any in decades,” PM Modi said during the three-hour conversation. He added that this initiative aimed to signal India’s “commitment to peace and harmony,” an approach initially met with surprise even by those who doubted his foreign policy strategies.
‘Indians embraced painful reality’
Reflecting deeply on the partition era, Modi recounted the trauma and violence accompanying India’s independence and the subsequent formation of Pakistan. “With hearts weighed down by grief and silent tears, Indians embraced this painful reality. However, what unfolded was an immediate, heartbreaking saga of bloodshed,” he said. He said that despite India’s willingness to move past historical wounds, Pakistan has continually “chosen not to foster a harmonious coexistence,” instead waging “proxy wars” and exporting terrorism.
“Don’t mistake this for ideology,” Modi said questioning, “What kind of ideology thrives on bloodshed and the export of terror?” He pointed out Pakistan’s global association with terrorism, referring to the shelter provided to Osama Bin Laden, mastermind behind the September 11 attacks.
‘We hope wisdom prevails’
Still hopeful for change, Modi said that the people of Pakistan themselves yearn for peace. “They must have grown weary of relentless terror, where even innocent children are killed and countless lives are destroyed,” he said. “We sincerely hope that wisdom prevails upon them and they choose the path of peace.”
