News Analysis India

Tag: Arindam Bagchi

  • India rejects Chinese foreign minister’s comments on Jammu and Kashmir

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India on Wednesday rejected as “uncalled” for Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s references to Jammu and Kashmir in an address at a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Pakistan, asserting matters relating to the union territory are entirely internal to the country.

    India’s rejection of Wang’s comments came in the midst of hectic consultations between the two sides over a possible visit by him to New Delhi in the next two days.

    “We reject the uncalled reference to India by the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his speech at the opening ceremony,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, in response to Wang’s reference to Jammu and Kashmir in his speech at the OIC meeting.

    Bagchi said matters related to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir are “entirely” internal affairs of India.

    “Other countries including China have no locus standi to comment. They should note that India refrains from public judgement of their internal issues,” he said.

    Bagchi was responding to media queries on the comments by Wang. “On Kashmir, we have heard again today the calls of many of our Islamic friends. And China shares the same hope,” Wang said at the OIC meeting.

  • We continue to function: India’s Ukraine mission 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Indian embassy in Ukraine, which is temporarily operating from Warsaw, on Friday advised Indians still stuck in the war-torn country to contact it for any assistance.

    India relocated its embassy in Ukraine to Poland a few days back in view of the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Ukraine.

    At present, the embassy is operating from Warsaw, the capital of Poland. In a fresh advisory, the embassy said it continues to function and can be contacted through email [email protected], and 24X7 helpline for any assistance.

    “The Embassy of India continues to function and can be contacted through email [email protected] and the following 24X7 helpline numbers on WhatsApp for assistance: +380933559958, +919205290802, +917428022564,” the embassy said.

    External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing on Thursday that there are 15 to 20 Indians who want to leave Ukraine now and that Indian authorities are extending help to them.

    “Our assessment is that there are 15 to 20 people who want to leave now, there are other people who do not want to leave now and we are extending help to them as much as possible,” he said.

    “There is a war going on now, but we will continue to do as much as we can to find a way to evacuate them,” he added.

    External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar this week told Parliament that the government has ensured the safe return of 22,500 Indians from Ukraine.

  • Our leaders will routinely travel to Arunachal Pradesh as they do to any other state: India tells China

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India on Wednesday strongly rejected China’s objection to a recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, asserting that the state is an “integral and inalienable” part of India.

    External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said objecting to the visit of Indian leaders to a state of India “does not stand to reason and understanding” of Indian people.

    “We have noted the comments made today by the Chinese official spokesperson. We reject such comments. Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India,” Bagchi said.

    He was responding to a question on comments by a spokesperson of the Chinese foreign ministry objecting to Naidu’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh over the weekend.

    “Indian leaders routinely travel to the state of Arunachal Pradesh as they do to any other state of India. Objecting to the visit of Indian leaders to a state of India does not stand to reason and understanding of Indian people,” Bagchi said.

    China has been objecting to visits of Indian leaders to Arunachal Pradesh, saying it is a part of South Tibet.

    The fresh war of words between the two sides came three days after the 13th round of military talks on the 17-month eastern Ladakh standoff ended in a stalemate.

    “Further, as we have mentioned earlier, the current situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas has been caused by unilateral attempts of the Chinese side to alter the status quo in violation of the bilateral agreements,” Bagchi said.

    The government often refers to eastern Ladakh as Western Sector.

    “Therefore, we expect the Chinese side to work towards early resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh while fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols rather than trying to link unrelated issues,” Bagchi said.

    A day after the 13th round of military talks, Indian Army said the “constructive suggestions” made by it were neither agreeable to the Chinese side nor it could provide any “forward-looking” proposals.

    On its part, the Chinese PLA’s Western Theatre Command said India insisted on “unreasonable and unrealistic demands, adding difficulties to the negotiations.”

  • Vandalisation of gurdwara in Kabul raises concern not only for India but for world as well: MEA

    According to reports, Gurdwara Karte Parwan in Pakistan's Kabul was vandalised two days ago.

  • ‘Climate of fear’: India slams Pakistan over vandalisation of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s statue in Lahore

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday slammed Pakistan following the vandalisation of a statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Lahore, saying Islamabad has completely failed in its duty to prevent such attacks which are creating a “climate of fear” among the minority communities.

    External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said incidents of violence against minority communities, including attacks on their places of worship, their cultural heritage, as well as their private property, are increasing at an “alarming rate” in Pakistan.

    “We have seen disturbing reports in the media about the vandalisation of the statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Lahore today. This is the third such incident wherein the statue has been vandalised, since it was unveiled in 2019,” he said.

    Bagchi was responding to media queries regarding the vandalisation of the statue.

    “Such attacks on the cultural heritage of minority communities in Pakistan highlight the growing intolerance and lack of respect for minority communities in Pakistani society,” he said.

    The MEA spokesperson also referred to an attack on a place of worship of minority community a few days ago in Rahim Yar Khan in Pakistan.

    “It was only 12 days ago that a mob attacked and desecrated a Hindu temple in Rahim Yar Khan in Pakistan,” he said.

    “The Pakistani state has completely failed in its duty to prevent such attacks,” Bagchi said, adding “This is creating a climate of fear for the minority communities to practice their faith.”

    He also asked Pakistan to ensure the safety, security and well-being of its minority communities.

    “We call upon the government of Pakistan to ensure the safety, security and well-being of its minority communities,” he said.

  • Pakistan’s allegations against India on terror attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ‘lies’: MEA

    At least 13 people were killed when the bus carrying the Chinese engineers and workers to the site of the under-construction Dasu Dam exploded on July 14.

  • Afghanistan crisis: India attends key regional meet as MEA hits at engaging with Talibans

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: India on Thursday joined a regional conclave hosted by Qatar to discuss ways to contain the escalating situation in Afghanistan in the backdrop of the Taliban’s continued offensive across the country.

    J P Singh, the Joint Secretary in the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran division in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), represented India at the meeting, officials said.

    MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said several important stakeholders in Afghanistan attended the meeting.

    Responding to a question on whether discussions were on with the Taliban, He also said New Delhi was in touch with everybody concerned.

    “The situation in Afghanistan is of concern. It is a rapidly evolving situation. We continue to hope that there will be a comprehensive ceasefire in Afghanistan,” he said.

    “We are in touch with all stakeholders, different stakeholders. I would not like to add anything further,” he said.

    Bagchi’s comments came on a day when India was participating in the regional dialogue on Afghanistan in Doha after being snubbed for the ‘extended troika’ meeting.

    The invitation for the meeting to India was extended by Qatari special envoy for conflict resolution Mutlaq bin Majed Al-Qahtani during his visit to the national capital last week, Bagchi said.

    Al-Qahtani, the Special Envoy of the Foreign Minister of Qatar for Counter-terrorism and Mediation of Conflict Resolution, visited India ostensibly to discuss the latest developments in Afghanistan.

    He met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and Singh.

    “We are committed to the long-term development of Afghanistan. We would like to see a peaceful and democratic Afghanistan,” Bagchi said at a media briefing.

    Qatar’s capital Doha has been the venue for the intra-Afghan peace talks and the Gulf country has emerged as a crucial player in facilitating the Afghan peace process.

    According to the MEA spokesperson, Joint Secretary (Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran) JP Singh is attending the meeting in Doha.

    India was invited to the regional dialogue by Mutlaq bin Majed Al-Qahtani, Qatar’s special envoy for counter-terrorism and conflict resolution, during his India visit last week.

    The comments also came on a day when the Taliban captured a 10th provincial capital in Afghanistan in a week.

    On Thursday, Ghazni, located only 150 kilometres away from Kabul, fell to the militant group. US intelligence reports have suggested that the Taliban could capture Kabul within 90 days.

    Meanwhile, New Delhi also said it hoped that an immediate and comprehensive cease-fire would be put in place and urged all Indians to return as soon as possible while adding that a formal evacuation mechanism is not in place.

    On protecting the interests of minorities in Afghanistan, Bagchi said India is in touch with Hindus and Sikhs.

    India brought back about 50 officials and citizens from and around Mazar-e-Sharif amid fighting near the capital of the Balkh province on Wednesday.

    “Our Consulate there continues to be operational with locally recruited staff,” Bagchi said.

    Asked about Pakistan’s continued support to the Taliban, Bagchi said the international community is well aware of that country’s role.

    The Taliban has been making rapid advances across Afghanistan by resorting to widespread violence since the United States began withdrawing its troops from the country on May 1.

    The US has already pulled back the majority of its forces and is looking to complete the drawdown by August 31.

    India has been engaged with a number of stakeholders and leading powers on the latest developments in Afghanistan.

    It has been supporting a national peace and reconciliation process that is Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled.

    India has also been calling upon all sections of the political spectrum in Afghanistan to work together to meet the aspirations of all people in the country, including those from the minority communities, for a prosperous and safe future.

    Imran critical of Washington role

    Pakistan PM Imran Khan on Thursday said the US finds Islamabad useful only for clearing its mess in Afghanistan and gives preference to India while forming partnerships.

    He added Washington is treating India differently for own interests.

    (With PTI Inputs)

  • India desires normal relations with all neighbours including Pakistan: MEA

    MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said India supports the Afghan peace process and is in touch with various stakeholders including regional countries.

  • J&K integral part of India; no amount of questioning can change reality: MEA

    Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Arindam Bagchi also said that cross-border terrorism is quot;unacceptable quot;.

  • India supports WHO’s call for detailed studies on origins of coronavirus: External Affairs Ministry

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: India on Friday supported renewed global calls for a comprehensive investigation by the WHO into the origins of COVID-19, days after US President Joe Biden asked American intelligence agencies to find out how coronavirus emerged in China.

    There were growing demands by a sizeable number of countries including the US and Australia to investigate whether the virus originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019 from an animal source or from a laboratory accident in December 2019 In March, the World Health Organisation (WHO) came out with a report on the origins of the virus but it had failed to meet the expectations of the US and several other leading countries.

    External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the follow up of the WHO report and further studies deserve the understanding and cooperation of all.

    “The WHO convened global study on the origin of COVID-19 is an important first step.

    It stressed the need for next phase studies as also for further data and studies to reach robust conclusions,” he said.

    Bagchi was responding to media queries on the issue.

    “The follow up of the WHO report and further studies deserve the understanding and cooperation of all,” he said.

    During the probe by the WHO earlier this year, the US and several other countries expressed concerns over Chinese authorities not providing complete data to the WHO team probing the origin of the virus.

    President Biden had on Wednesday ordered the US intelligence agencies to “redouble” their efforts in investigating the emergence of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic and report back to him in 90 days.

    “I have now asked the intelligence community to redouble their efforts to collect and analyse information that could bring us closer to a definitive conclusion, and to report back to me in 90 days,” Biden had said.

    “As part of that report, I have asked for areas of further inquiry that may be required, including specific questions for China.

    I have also asked that this effort include work by our national labs and other agencies of our government to augment the intelligence community’s efforts,” the US president had said.