In the high-stakes 2023 Lok Sabha election, Pakistan has emerged as a prominent topic in Indian leaders’ campaign speeches. Director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center, Michael Kugelman, observes that Prime Minister Modi’s recent comments on Pakistan are not surprising. Kugelman notes that since the Uri/Pathankot attacks following Modi’s 2015 visit to Lahore, he has maintained a tough stance on Pakistan and has shown no interest in engagement. Kugelman believes that while India is not interested in improving relations with Pakistan, it is also not keen on the situation worsening. India’s primary foreign policy concern is China, and it aims to keep tensions with Pakistan low to allocate more strategic attention to the China challenge.