Prime Minister Modi’s appearance on the three-hour-long podcast with Computer scientist and podcaster Lex Fridman is gaining international attention and sharing his thoughts on several issues such as artificial intelligence (AI), cricket, football, China, US President Donald Trump, Pakistan, and his early life. The article will bring Modi’s thoughts on India’s immediate neighbours, Pakistan and China, he shared in the long podcast. China even appreciated PM Modi’s ‘positive remarks’ and said willing to work with India.
Modi on India-Pakistan Issue
In the interview, PM Modi addressed India’s strained relationship with Pakistan, accusing the neighboring nation of state-sponsored terrorism and failed peace initiatives. Fridman asked about the tense conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations and whether there was a path to friendship and peace.
PM Modi remembered India’s partition in 1947 as a painful and bloody page in history. He said that even though India accepted partition, Pakistan did not opt for peaceful coexistence.
“After getting their own way, we expected them to live and let live, and yet, they chose not to foster a harmonious coexistence. Time and again, they decided to be at odds with India. They have waged a proxy war against us,” PM Modi said.
He accused Pakistan of exporting terrorism, affecting not just India but the entire world. “Wherever terror strikes in the world, the trail somehow leads to Pakistan. Take the September 11 attacks, for example. The mastermind behind it, Osama bin Laden—where did he eventually emerge from? He had taken refuge in Pakistan. The world has recognized that terrorism and the terrorist mindset are deeply rooted in Pakistan,” Modi at Fridman’s podcast said.
PM Modi called Pakistan an “epicenter of turmoil” and urged its leadership to abandon terrorism and work toward peace, emphasizing that even the people of Pakistan long for stability, having suffered from internal unrest and terrorist violence.
Modi on India’s Past Peace Efforts
When asked about previous peace efforts, PM Modi recalled inviting then-Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to his swearing-in ceremony in 2014.
“My first attempt at improving bilateral relations was when I invited my Pakistani counterpart to my swearing-in. It was a gesture of goodwill, a diplomatic gesture unlike any in decades,” he said.
He also mentioned his surprise visit to Lahore in 2015 to foster better ties, lamenting that every peace initiative was metwith hostility and betrayal. “Yet, every noble attempt at fostering peace was met with hostility and betrayal. We sincerely hope that wisdom prevails upon them and they choose the path of peace,” he added.
Modi on China and Xi Jinping
PM Modi emphasized strengthening relations with China despite past tensions, insisting on dialogue over discord and cooperation over conflict. He spoke about the “long history” of India-China relations and the importance of mutual understanding.
“Look, the relationship between India and China isn’t something new. Both nations have ancient cultures and civilizations. Even in the modern world, they play a significant role. If you look at historical records, for centuries, India and China have learned from each other. Together, they have always contributed to the global good in some way,” PM Modi said.
He noted that at one point, India and China together accounted for more than half of the world’s GDP. He also highlighted Buddhism’s influence on China, originating from India and fostering cultural exchanges.
He said, “If we look back centuries, there’s no real history of conflict between us. It has always been about learning from each other and understanding one another.”
Addressing the border disputes, Modi acknowledged the tensions following the 2020 clashes along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). He mentioned that Indian and Chinese troops resumed patrolling in eastern Ladakh after a gap of over four years.
“It is true that there have been ongoing border disputes between us. And in 2020, the incidents along the border created significant tensions between our countries. However, after my recent meeting with President Xi, we have seen a return to normalcy at the border,” PM Modi said at the podcast.
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“We are now working to restore conditions to how they were before 2020. Slowly but surely, trust, enthusiasm, and energy will return. But of course, it will take some time since there’s been a five-year gap. Our cooperation isn’t just beneficial; it’s also essential for global stability and prosperity. And since the 21st century is Asia’s century, we want India and China to compete in a healthy and natural way. Competition is not a bad thing, but it should never turn into conflict,” he added.
He stressed that differences are natural, especially between neighbouring countries. “Even within a family, not everything is always perfect,” he remarked.
PM Modi emphasized his government’s efforts to prevent differences from escalating into disputes. “Our focus is to ensure that these differences don’t turn into disputes. Instead of discord, we emphasize dialogue because only through dialogue can we build a stable, cooperative relationship that serves the best interests of both nations.”
China on Monday said that it “appreciates” Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent “positive remarks” on China-India relations as both sides earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries in Kazan, last year.
A significant breakthrough came when India and China completed disengagement at the last two friction points in eastern Ladakh—Depsang and Demchok. Following this, Modi and Xi held discussions in Kazan, agreeing to revive dialogue mechanisms to improve relations, leading to a series of diplomatic engagements.
