Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger passed away today, and senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took the opportunity to reflect on the events of 1971, when then US President Richard Nixon and Kissinger posed significant challenges for India. However, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her close aide PN Haksar proved to be more than a match for them.
Kissinger, known for his dominant role in shaping US foreign policy during the Vietnam War, died at the age of 100. Ramesh acknowledged Kissinger’s immense impact and controversial reputation in a post on X.
Ramesh highlighted that Kissinger had positioned himself as a great friend and supporter of India in recent decades. However, he noted that this was not always the case, particularly in 1971 when Nixon and Kissinger created significant problems for India and believed they had the country cornered. But Indira Gandhi and PN Haksar were able to outplay their counterparts.
Ramesh mentioned that he extensively covered the encounters between Kissinger-Haksar and Nixon-Indira Gandhi with archival detail in his book titled ‘Intertwined Lives: PN Haksar & Indira Gandhi’.
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