NextFin news, New Delhi, Wednesday, October 8, 2025 – The Indian Congress party publicly condemned the United States' recent decision to supply advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles manufactured by Raytheon to Pakistan. The criticism came following the release of a US Department of War notification dated September 30, 2025, which included Pakistan among the recipients of these missiles alongside countries such as Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Turkey.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh highlighted the development as a significant diplomatic setback for the Narendra Modi administration. He pointed out that earlier in the year, on May 7, 2025, the US had awarded Raytheon contracts to supply the same missiles to a broad list of allied nations, excluding Pakistan. The sudden inclusion of Pakistan in the latest contract, Ramesh said, reflects a rapid and unfavorable shift in the diplomatic climate.
Ramesh stated on his social media platform X, "How quickly the diplomatic climate changes, and how quickly diplomatic setbacks accumulate," emphasizing the perceived deterioration in India's strategic position. He further questioned the Indian government's ability to diplomatically isolate Pakistan, especially in light of other recent developments such as Russia's agreement to supply engines for Pakistan's Chinese-made fighter jets.
The Congress party also criticized the warm diplomatic engagement between Pakistan's leadership, including Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, and global powers such as the United States, Russia, and China. Ramesh referenced the Pahalgam terror attack as a backdrop to these concerns, underscoring the security implications for India.
Congress communications chief added that despite years of high-profile summits and international engagements led by the Modi government, substantive outcomes in terms of isolating Pakistan or curbing its military capabilities have not been achieved.
While India maintains a longstanding strategic partnership with Russia, the latter's decision to supply engines for Pakistan's JF-17 fighter jets has raised questions about Russia's commitment to India. Russian defense experts, however, have dismissed the criticism, suggesting that the sale could benefit India by making Pakistan's aircraft more predictable based on shared engine technology.
The US decision to supply Raytheon missiles to Pakistan comes amid complex geopolitical dynamics in South Asia, where India continues to seek strategic advantages and security assurances against regional threats.
This development was reported by multiple sources including The Telegraph India and Times of India on Wednesday, October 8, 2025.
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