News Analysis India

Tag: Dominic Raab

  • Britain urges India to pressure Russia to stop Ukraine war

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Deputy PM of the United Kingdom, Dominic Raab, has urged India and China to increase diplomatic pressure on Russia to stop the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

    “China has got a job here. They’ve got to step up as well – this is a permanent member of the (UN) Security Council, and India as well. We need to expand the diplomatic pressure,” Raab said while speaking to the British media.

    Both India and China have refrained from condemning Russia and both have close ties. Raab hope that both India and China could leverage their close ties with Russia to pressurise Putin to end the conflict.

    ALSO READ | PM Modi speaks to Putin; seeks safe evacuation of Indians from Ukraine’s Sumy at earliest

    Raab also labelled Putin’s threat to use nuclear weapons as rhetoric and brinkmanship. Meanwhile, Britain will seek to speed up its sanctions process via new legislation designed to allow ministers to tighten restrictions on Russian businesses and wealthy individuals.

    The Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Bill is being pushed through Parliament next week as Britain tries to punish those with links to President Putin, in response to his invasion of Ukraine.

    “Punishing sanctions are meaningless until properly implemented and these changes will allow us to pursue Putin’s allies in the UK with the full backing of the law, beyond doubt or legal challenge,” UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday.

  • EAM Jaishankar speaks to British counterpart Dominic Raab on situation in Afghanistan

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to his British counterpart Dominic Raab on Wednesday on the situation in Afghanistan, their second such conversation in a week.

    India has been in constant touch with all major countries on the fast-paced developments in Afghanistan, particularly after the Taliban took control of the country on August 15.

    “Nice speaking again to UK Foreign Secretary @DominicRaab.

    Conversation focused on Afghanistan related developments,” Jaishankar tweeted.

    The Jaishankar-Raab conversation came a day after the US completed the withdrawal of its forces from Afghanistan, ending its two-decade war in the country.

    The external affairs minister spoke to Raab on August 25 as well on the Afghan crisis.

    On Wednesday, Jaishankar also spoke to Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Al Busaidi.

    “Good to talk to Omani Foreign Minister @badralbusaidi. Discussed Afghanistan and Covid. Thank Oman for supporting our repatriation flights,” Jaishankar tweeted.

     READ MORE | In Afghanistan’s Panjshir Valley, anti-Taliban forces fight on

    India has been closely monitoring the unfolding developments in Afghanistan.

    Indian Ambassador to Qatar Deepak Mittal met senior Taliban leader Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai in Doha on Tuesday, in the first formal and pubicly acknowledged contact between the two sides.

    The meeting took place at the Indian embassy in Doha at the request of the Taliban side and came two weeks after the outfit seized control of Kabul.

    India has been a key stakeholder in Afghanistan and it has invested nearly USD 3 billion in carrying out nearly 500 projects across Afghanistan.

    The UN Security Council, under India’s presidency, on Monday adopted a resolution demanding that the territory of Afghanistan not be used to threaten any country or shelter terrorists.

    There have been mounting concerns in India over the possibility of rise in activities of various terror groups, including Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

    ALSO WATCH:

  • Jaishankar, British Foreign Secretary Raab discuss progress in bilateral ties

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI:  External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday spoke with British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and reviewed the progress in bilateral cooperation as well as discussed regional and UN issues.

    “Nice talking to UK Foreign Secretary @DominicRaab. Reviewed the progress in our bilateral cooperation. Also discussed regional and UN issues,” Jaishankar tweeted.

    Nice talking to UK Foreign Secretary @DominicRaab. Reviewed the progress in our bilateral cooperation. Also discussed regional and UN issues.
    — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 3, 2021

    Raab had visited India last December and held talks with Jaishankar during which the two sides had agreed on the key elements of an ambitious 10-year roadmap to further broaden ties, and also boost strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.