Owaisi Slams India’s ‘Lost Decade’ of Foreign Policy Failures
Hyderabad, September 22, 2025 (Staff Correspondent): AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has launched a blistering attack on the Indian government after the announcement by former US President Donald Trump that the H1B visa program would be scrapped. Calling the move a major blow to Indian professionals, Owaisi argued that the decision reflects the systemic failure of India’s foreign policy under the present regime.
Owaisi pointed out that nearly 71–72% of H1B visas are issued to Indians, with a large chunk going to IT professionals from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. “The average Indian H1B holder earns around $120,000 annually, which has long supported India’s $125 billion remittance economy. These two states alone account for 37% of India’s NRI deposits. This closure shuts a vital door for intergenerational economic mobility,” he said.
‘Trump Acted for His Country, But What Did Modi Achieve?’
While clarifying that he holds no personal grievance against Trump, Owaisi said the former US President acted in what he believed to be America’s national interest. His criticism, however, was squarely directed at the Indian government.
“What did ‘Howdy Modi’ or ‘Namaste Trump’ deliver for Indians? Organizing NRI events in Madison Square Garden or exchanging birthday greetings cannot be passed off as foreign policy victories. The scrapping of H1B visas primarily targets Indians, and if the US, touted as our strategic partner, does not consider India an ally, then it is clearly a failure of this government’s diplomacy,” Owaisi declared.
‘India Is Growing More Isolated’
Owaisi placed the H1B issue within a larger context of India’s global setbacks, citing a string of developments in recent years:
- High tariffs imposed by the US on Indian goods,
- The US–Pakistan trade agreement,
- The Pakistan–Saudi strategic deal, which he alleged was carried out with US backing.
“These are signs of India’s growing diplomatic isolation, while our neighborhood becomes increasingly hostile,” he said.
Call for Expanding Rupee Trade
Owaisi also highlighted India’s de-dollarization initiatives, noting that trade settlements in rupees are already underway with more than 18 countries, including Qatar and several ASEAN nations. He urged the government to expand this framework to all major trading partners, ensuring India is not coerced by external powers.
“We must not yield even an inch to Trump’s pressure tactics,” he stressed.
‘A Lost Decade for India’
The AIMIM chief accused the Modi-led government of sacrificing long-term national interest for short-term political optics.
“This is not about political point-scoring. The government must seriously introspect why India faces such repeated foreign policy and national security setbacks. Are these reduced to mere gimmicks? The impact does not fall on Modi, but on ordinary Indians who now lose opportunities abroad,” Owaisi said.
Labeling the decade from 2014 to 2024 as a ‘lost decade’, he alleged that India squandered global goodwill and failed to secure tangible benefits from its strategic partnerships.
