Sam Pitroda, the Indian Overseas Congress chief, has raised concerns over the exaggerated portrayal of the India-China border dispute, attributing much of the tension to the United States’ tendency to identify enemies. His remarks come in response to US President Donald Trump’s offer to mediate in the conflict, made during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington last week.
“I don’t understand why China is seen as a threat. This issue has been amplified, as the US has a history of defining adversaries. The world needs to come together and collaborate, not confront each other,” Pitroda shared in a conversation with a news agency.
He also criticized India’s confrontational stance on the matter, calling it counterproductive and harmful in the long run. “We need to rethink our approach. Labeling China as the enemy is unfair—not just to China but to the global community. It’s high time we shift our focus toward dialogue, cooperation, and joint problem-solving rather than domination and control,” he added.
Despite President Trump’s offer to mediate, which was seen as an attempt to ease tensions, India firmly rejected any external intervention. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri reiterated India’s consistent policy of handling border disputes bilaterally. “India has always followed a bilateral approach in dealing with disputes, including those with China. There is no change in that stance,” Misri emphasized.
The issue was also touched upon during Trump’s joint press conference with Prime Minister Modi on February 13 at the White House, where Trump acknowledged the ongoing border skirmishes but remained hopeful about global cooperation. “I believe China is an important global player and can play a role in ending the war in Ukraine. As for India, the border clashes continue, but I would love to assist in resolving this long-standing issue,” Trump remarked.