India's Ambassador to China, Vikram Doraiswami, on Saturday rejected any comparison between India and Pakistan over efforts to mediate in the West Asia conflict, saying each country must determine for itself whether assuming such a role aligns with its national interests.
Responding to a question from a Chinese journalist about India's role in global leadership and Pakistan's attempts to mediate in the Iran-US conflict, Doraiswami said, "I think the comparison, if I might be a little direct, with Pakistan, is a little... a little unfair. I think the economy in the two countries will tell you a lot."
Doraiswami was speaking at the World Peace Forum organised by China's Tsinghua University.
Calling for countries to be assessed on their actual contributions to the international system, he said, "We should look at countries according to what they are and what they are actually doing in the larger global system," while adding that "India's integration with the globe is at a level not matched by most countries".
He said India's engagement with the world extends across multiple fronts. "This includes the idea of economic integration with European countries, with Asian countries, our willingness to contribute to larger questions of peace and security," he said.
Addressing the issue of mediation, Doraiswami maintained that such decisions are for individual nations to make. "We're willing to do all of this. The question about mediation that you're talking about, this is one that, you know, it is for individual countries to decide whether that adds value to their larger national position," Doraiswami said.
Referring to India's previous experience, he added, "We have done our bit of that in the past. I don't see how that, at this point of time and what is already a crowded field, would benefit us in any particular way."
He also compared India's stance on recent international conflicts with that of China. "As far as I see it, our position in recent crises, both in West Asia or even in East Europe, has been quite similar to that of China," he said.
According to the envoy, neither New Delhi nor Beijing appears inclined to assume the role of mediator in the current conflicts. "The envoy said he doesn't see China or India "actually stepping forward to offer mediatory services"."
Earlier in the day, Doraiswami participated in a session on Protectionism and Global Governance during the forum.
