India on Monday drew attention with a sharp comment on Pakistan’s political situation, after the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that “democracy and Pakistan don’t go together” while responding to questions about the country’s internal turmoil.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal sparked a strong response on Monday after making a sharp comment on Pakistan’s political situation, saying that “democracy and Pakistan don’t go together.” He made the remark during the ministry’s weekly briefing while responding to a question about the worsening democratic environment in Pakistan, including the treatment of former prime minister Imran Khan and the unrest in the country.
Jaiswal said India continues to keep a close watch on developments across the border but declined to go into detail. “We monitor everything happening in Pakistan… Democracy and Pakistan don’t go together, so it’s best not to say more,” he said.
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#WATCH | Delhi: MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, “We keep a close eye on every development in Pakistan. But regarding democracy, you’re saying that democracy in Pakistan is becoming weak and its strengths are being weakened. Democracy and Pakistan don’t go together.” pic.twitter.com/SxTAOHt8qp
— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2025
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Responding to a different question about recent clashes at the Pakistan–Afghanistan border, Jaiswal said India was concerned about reports of Afghan civilian casualties. “We have seen reports of border clashes in which several Afghan civilians have been killed. We condemn such attacks on innocent Afghan people. India strongly supports the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Afghanistan,” he said. At least five people were killed after heavy gunfire between Pakistani and Afghan forces on Friday, according to Reuters, further straining ties after peace talks collapsed last week.
Jaiswal’s remarks came amid rising political turmoil in Pakistan. Earlier, Pakistan’s military issued a rare, direct criticism of Imran Khan. Military spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, without naming him, referred to the jailed former prime minister as a “mentally ill” narcissist, as reported by the Associated Press. This followed Khan’s post on X, where he called Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir a “mentally unstable individual,” blaming him for undermining Pakistan’s constitutional order.
Khan, 73, has been in prison since 2023 after a corruption conviction and continues to face multiple cases. His party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has repeatedly demanded regular access for his family and su