Russia stood by India when world backed Pakistan: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday emphasized India's longstanding relationship with Russia, noting that Moscow provided crucial support when the international community stood with Pakistan during key moments in India's history.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Jaishankar said India's engagement with Russia is grounded in historical experience and national interests rather than contemporary geopolitical alignments. The statement came amid international scrutiny of India's continued ties with Moscow following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"When the world was with Pakistan, Russia was with India," Jaishankar said, referencing periods when Western nations maintained closer relations with Islamabad during various bilateral crises and military conflicts between the two South Asian nations.

The minister clarified that India's foreign policy decisions are informed by decades of experience and strategic partnerships. He emphasized that New Delhi pursues an independent course in international relations, neither aligning with broader Western positions nor abandoning historical partnerships based on current pressures.

Jaishankar's comments reflect India's diplomatic balancing act as it maintains strategic autonomy while facing Western criticism over its measured response to the Ukraine conflict and continued economic and defense ties with Russia.