Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a podcast with Lex Fridman released on Sunday, expressed disappointment that India’s every effort to build peace with Pakistan has been met with “hostility and betrayal.” Reflecting on his tenure, Modi highlighted his 2014 decision to invite then-Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to his swearing-in ceremony, a move aimed at resetting bilateral ties. “Yet, every noble attempt at fostering peace was met with hostility and betrayal,” he said during the over three-hour conversation.

Modi expressed hope that “wisdom prevails” in Islamabad’s leadership to pursue peace, suggesting that even Pakistan’s citizens must be weary of “strife, unrest, and relentless terror” that claims innocent lives, including children. He described his 2014 outreach as a “gesture of goodwill,” unprecedented in decades, aimed at signaling India’s commitment to harmony. “It was a diplomatic gesture unlike any in decades… This sent a clear message to the world about India's commitment to peace and harmony, but we didn’t get the desired outcome,” he remarked.

The prime minister noted that the invitation to SAARC leaders, including Sharif, surprised skeptics of his foreign policy approach. He cited former President Pranab Mukherjee’s memoir, which praised the historic move as a reflection of India’s confident diplomacy. Despite the setback, Modi reiterated his belief in peace as a shared aspiration, urging a rethink in Pakistan’s approach to improve ties strained by years of conflict and mistrust.