Former Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal has urged India to leave the Commonwealth, a group of 56 nations, mostly former British colonies. Speaking at the Kashmir Literature Festival, Sibal said India’s membership in the Commonwealth is no longer relevant. “It’s time we quit. India is now a bigger economy than Britain, and we have moved past our colonial history,” he stated.
Sibal also criticized some key foreign policy decisions made during Jawaharlal Nehru’s time as Prime Minister. He pointed out two major mistakes: taking the Kashmir issue to the United Nations on British advice, which shifted India’s role from a complainant to a defender, and handing over Tibet to China without securing clear border agreements. He said these decisions still create challenges for India today.
Praising the current government, Sibal noted how efforts by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, such as active engagement on social media and public platforms, have created greater interest in foreign policy among ordinary people. He also highlighted the government’s decision to hold G20 meetings across the country, including in Jammu and Kashmir, to connect citizens with India’s global role.
Sibal emphasized that involving the public in understanding foreign policy is crucial for strengthening India’s position on the world stage.
