MM Report
LONDON: A televised exchange involving the British journalist Rosanna Lockwood drew attention after she appeared to criticize India’s diplomatic posture in stark terms, contrasting it with recent remarks made by India’s external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar about Pakistan.
During the discussion, Lockwood was joined by Sushant Singh, a retired Indian general, and Richard Dearlove. The conversation, which had focused on regional security dynamics and the shifting contours of international alliances, took a pointed turn when Lockwood raised questions about what she described as inconsistencies in India’s responses to geopolitical developments.
In a remark that appeared deliberately provocative, she referred to India as a “dalal” of Benjamin Netanyahu, a term implying brokerage or alignment, and used it to underline what she suggested was a perceived closeness between New Delhi and Tel Aviv. Her comment was framed as a contrast to Jaishankar’s earlier criticism of Pakistan, which she implied had overlooked Islamabad’s strategic relevance in global affairs.
Lockwood’s line of questioning was marked by a degree of irony, as she pressed Singh to respond to what she characterized as an “illogical reaction” from India in the context of recent regional tensions. She went on to argue that Pakistan’s role, particularly in areas such as counterterrorism cooperation and regional stability, had been both “pivotal” and “beneficial” on the world stage.
The journalist also mocked India’s so-called friendship with Russia, noting that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had shifted closer to the United States and had even reduced purchases of Russian oil despite its comparatively cheaper rates. Singh, for his part, attempted to defend India’s position, emphasizing its sovereign decision-making and strategic partnerships.
