India Receives Unexpected Praise From Pakistanis For Hosting A Successful G20 Summit
In a surprising turn of events, Pakistanis have heaped praise on India for its successful hosting of the 18th G20 Leaders’ Summit in Delhi. This high-profile event, which brought together leaders from over 30 countries and prominent International organisations, unfolded over two days at Delhi’s state-of-the-art Bharat Mandapam in Pragati Maidan on September 9 and 10.
The summit resulted in the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration, which was agreed upon by all G20 member states. Notably, the declaration contained a reference to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, where member nations, without explicitly condemning Russia, called for the restraint of all countries from using force to seize territory. Among the summit’s significant outcomes were the announcement of an India-Middle East-Europe trade corridor and the formal inclusion of the African Union (AU) as a full G20 member.
Pakistanis express admiration
A Karachi resident expressed admiration for India’s conduct of the G20 Summit, stating, “When heads of the top 20 countries visit a country, it is an honour for that nation. The Indian economy will derive many benefits out of it (G20).” India assumed the G20 Presidency on December 1, 2022, during the Bali Summit and will continue to hold this position until the end of November 2023.
Another Pakistani local lamented Pakistan’s global isolation, saying, “The fact that India hosted the heads of the major economies also, in a way, casts a negative light on our foreign policy. Our economy and security situation have deteriorated significantly over the last 5-6 years. The world has sidelined us.”
A resident of Lahore appeared to touch upon India’s decision to invite Bangladesh to the summit while excluding Pakistan. This Pakistani local commented, “At a time when we are desperately trying to lift our economy from the dumps, India played host to leaders of the 20 major economies of the world. The successfully conducted global event would have filled the Indians with pride. We all saw pictures from India, of (PM) Modi posing with world leaders.
“They were successful in showcasing India in a positive light before a global audience. The ‘Shehzada’ of Saudi Arabia (Crown Prince Salman) didn’t come here (to Pakistan) but went to India for the G20 Summit. This shows the growing importance of India for the world. It was also surprising that Bangladesh was invited but Pakistan wasn’t.”
This unexpected praise from Pakistani locals underscores the significance of India’s role in hosting the G20 Summit and its growing prominence in the international arena.
