A diplomatic gesture from Pakistan has sparked a political controversy in India, as mangoes were recently sent from the Pakistani High Commission in Delhi to seven Indian Members of Parliament (MPs), including opposition leader Rahul Gandhi. The gift has intensified political debate amid ongoing tensions and the situation in Bangladesh.
The Pakistani High Commission confirmed the delivery of mangoes to the following MPs: Rahul Gandhi, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal, Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, Rampur MP Mohibullah Nadvi, SP MP Geor Rehman Burke, Ghazipur MP Afzal Ansari, and Keiran MP Iqra Hasan. The gesture was initially seen as an attempt by Pakistan to improve bilateral relations and foster goodwill.
However, the move has been met with sharp criticism from the BJP, who have seized upon the incident to target the opposition party. Union Minister Giriraj Singh remarked, “Rahul Gandhi and his associates seem to have developed a taste for Pakistani mangoes. Is there a new agreement on ‘mango diplomacy’ between India and Pakistan? Gandhi should clarify his stance on this matter.”
Singh further questioned whether Gandhi’s appreciation for the mangoes was part of a larger, potentially problematic engagement with Pakistan, suggesting there might be underlying motives or conspiracies. BJP leader Amit Malviya also criticized the Congress party over the issue, stating, “The Pakistani High Commission’s gesture of sending mangoes to selected Congress MPs raises questions about the nature of their relations. We need to understand who specifically facilitated this gift.”

The BJP’s reaction is rooted in the broader context of strained India-Pakistan relations, which have often been marked by high tensions. The incident has also sparked discussions about the use of mangoes in diplomatic relations, a practice known as ‘mango diplomacy,’ which has historical precedent. Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina used to send mangoes to Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. In 2015, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif extended a gesture of friendship to India through ‘mango diplomacy’ during a period of heightened border tensions, sending mangoes to Modi, President Pranab Mukherjee, and Congress President Sonia Gandhi.