India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on March 5 revealed how he left his “well-paying corporate job” and Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked him to join the government. “Personally it was a surprise, I never even thought about it, but, one of the reasons I never thought about it was that nobody in my family even remotely thought about it,” said EAM Jaishankar while interacting with Indian community in Seoul.
Tag: External Affairs Minister
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Politics of the day should not lead our borders to be vulnerable: Jaishankar
By PTI
KOLKATA: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday said that the political compulsions of the day should not make the country’s borders vulnerable or harm the larger interest of the nation.
The union minister, while interacting with the students at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta, said that the temporary provision given under Article 370 to Jammu and Kashmir continued for more than 70 years due to the “politics of the day”.
“It is important to put the national interest first. Politics of the day should not hamper the larger interest of the nation. All politicians should have that approach in the first place,” he said, adding that “politics of the day should not lead our borders to be vulnerable.”
Speaking on the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, Jaishankar rhetorically asked what was the reason for a temporary provision to continue so long other than the politics of the day.
“The fact that we had such a messy issue there. The whole world used it,” he said.
Jaishankar said there is a need to create public opinion on this issue as it impacts the politics of the country.
Addressing the issue of advanced fighter jets such as F-16 being given to Pakistan, the external affairs minister said, “If you look at last 75 years, it has not served the world well by propping up military dictatorship.”
Without naming India’s western neighbour, he also asked Pakistan to go in for a “performance evaluation” over the issue of that nation’s support to terrorism outside its borders.
Many analysts have earlier pointed out that Pakistan’s use of proxy religion-based terror groups has spawned religious militancy within that country too.
Jaishankar, who has served as a career diplomat for several decades before joining the Narendra Modi government as a minister, also pointed to the need to connect diplomacy with issues that concern the common citizens.
“Diplomacy is a bread and butter issue. If an Indian consumer is paying less for petrol, an Indian farmer is assured of fertilizer at the right time, an Indian household is getting food at right price, to me these are really benchmark of successful diplomacy”, he said.
India has been striving to seal deals with Russia and other nations to buy crude at cheaper prices despite its western allies frowning on these moves.
KOLKATA: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday said that the political compulsions of the day should not make the country’s borders vulnerable or harm the larger interest of the nation.
The union minister, while interacting with the students at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta, said that the temporary provision given under Article 370 to Jammu and Kashmir continued for more than 70 years due to the “politics of the day”.
“It is important to put the national interest first. Politics of the day should not hamper the larger interest of the nation. All politicians should have that approach in the first place,” he said, adding that “politics of the day should not lead our borders to be vulnerable.”
Speaking on the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, Jaishankar rhetorically asked what was the reason for a temporary provision to continue so long other than the politics of the day.
“The fact that we had such a messy issue there. The whole world used it,” he said.
Jaishankar said there is a need to create public opinion on this issue as it impacts the politics of the country.
Addressing the issue of advanced fighter jets such as F-16 being given to Pakistan, the external affairs minister said, “If you look at last 75 years, it has not served the world well by propping up military dictatorship.”
Without naming India’s western neighbour, he also asked Pakistan to go in for a “performance evaluation” over the issue of that nation’s support to terrorism outside its borders.
Many analysts have earlier pointed out that Pakistan’s use of proxy religion-based terror groups has spawned religious militancy within that country too.
Jaishankar, who has served as a career diplomat for several decades before joining the Narendra Modi government as a minister, also pointed to the need to connect diplomacy with issues that concern the common citizens.
“Diplomacy is a bread and butter issue. If an Indian consumer is paying less for petrol, an Indian farmer is assured of fertilizer at the right time, an Indian household is getting food at right price, to me these are really benchmark of successful diplomacy”, he said.
India has been striving to seal deals with Russia and other nations to buy crude at cheaper prices despite its western allies frowning on these moves.
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External affairs minister S Jaishankar on a visit to Male, Colombo
Express News Service
NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister, Dr S Jaishankar, is visiting India’s maritime neighbours – the Maldives and Sri Lanka – in the next two days.
He has left for the Maldives today and will be in Addu city till tomorrow. Dr Jaishankar will call on Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and hold discussions with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid.
“EAMs visit will see the signing of several agreements related to the bilateral development cooperation, inauguration/handing over and launch of a number of key projects (supported by India) that would contribute to the socio-economic development of the Maldives and enhance its security,” according to Ministry of External Affairs.
On Monday, Dr Jaishankar will be in Sri Lanka where he will have interactions with his counterpart Prof G L Peiris. The focus will be on India’s neighbourhood first policy.
Jaishankar will also attend the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) in Colombo.
Both Maldives and Sri Lanka are India’s key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region and occupy a special place in the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘SAGAR’ and Neighbourhood First.
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EAM Jaishankar receives phone call from Ukrainian foreign minister
By PTI
NEW DELHI: Ahead of the crucial vote at the UN Security Council on the Russian attack on Ukraine, the country’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Friday spoke to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and shared his assessment of the current situation in Ukraine.
Jaishankar said he emphasised that India supports diplomacy and dialogue as the “way out”. “Received call from Ukrainian FM @DmytroKuleba. He shared his assessment of the current situation. I emphasised that India supports diplomacy & dialogue as the way out,” Jaishankar tweeted.
“Discussed predicament of Indian nationals, including students. Appreciate his support for their safe return,” he added.
The UN Security Council is scheduled to vote on Friday evening on a draft resolution on Russia’s military operation in Ukraine as well as the escalating situation in the eastern European country.
The draft resolution is set to condemn in the strongest terms Russia’s military operation in Ukraine that has triggered strong outrage by the Western powers.
When asked at a media briefing on Thursday about India’s position on the draft UN Security resolution on the Ukraine crisis, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said India has seen it and that New Delhi’s stand will depend on the final shape of its text.
“I am told that that would undergo considerable changes. We will wait to see the shape that the resolution takes before we can pronounce ourselves and the position that we will take on the issue,” he said.
In the midst of the escalating situation in Ukraine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation with President Vladimir Putin on Thursday during which he appealed for ending violence, and called for concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic dialogue.
Jaishankar too held a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and underlined that dialogue and diplomacy are the best way forward to deal with the crisis.
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EAM Jaishankar on Israel visit from October 17-21; will hold talks to strengthen strategic ties
By PTI
NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will pay an official visit to Israel beginning Sunday during which he will hold talks with his Israeli counterpart Yair Lapid to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries.
This will be Jaishankar’s first visit to the country as External Affairs Minister.
The Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Saturday that Jaishankar will pay an official visit to Israel from October 17-21 at the invitation of Alternate Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Lapid.
ALSO READ | India is ‘strategic partner and very close friend’, says Israeli official ahead of EAM Jaishankar’s visit
He will hold a bilateral meeting with Lapid and will also call on President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, and Knesset Speaker Mickey Levy during his visit.
India and Israel elevated bilateral relations to a strategic partnership during the historic visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel in July 2017.
Since then, the relationship between the two countries has focused on expanding knowledge-based partnership, which includes collaboration in innovation and research, including boosting the ‘Make in India’ initiative, the MEA said.
During his visit, Jaishankar will interact with the Indian-origin Jewish community in Israel, Indologists, Indian students who are currently pursuing their education in Israeli universities, and business people, including from the hi-tech industries, the statement said.
The visit will also be an occasion to pay tribute to the valiant Indian soldiers who laid their lives in the region, especially during the First World War, it said.
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EAM Jaishankar speaks to UK counterpart on travel related issues
By PTI
NEW DELHI: A day after the UK announced lifting of its quarantine rule for Indian travellers, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday spoke to his British counterpart Liz Truss with a focus on issues relating to travel between the two countries.
The UK on Thursday announced that Indian travellers fully vaccinated with both doses of Covishield or any other vaccine approved by it will not require to undergo a 10-day mandatory quarantine on arrival from October 11.
“Good to talk to UK Foreign Secretary @trussliz. Agreed to facilitate travel between our two countries. This will help to implement the Roadmap 2030,” Jaishankar tweeted.
ALSO READ | India to allow foreign tourists travelling by chartered flights from Oct 15, rest from Nov 15
The Roadmap 2030 was adopted at a virtual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson at a virtual summit in May.
The roadmap is aimed at elevating bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership and guide cooperation over the next decade in the key areas of trade and economy, defence and security, climate change and people-to-people connect among others.
The annoucement on lifting quarantine rule for Indian travellers was made by British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis on Thursday evening.
“From Monday, a traveller from India to the UK, double jabbed with Covishield or another vaccine recognised by the UK regulator does not have to quarantine. It will be easier and cheaper to enter the UK. This is great news,” Ellis said in a video statement.
Separately, the UK issued a fresh travel advisory and said the “red list” will reduce to seven countries and “proof of vaccination will be recognised from 37 new countries and territories including India from 4 am on Monday.
Under the new British rules that came into effect on October 4, Indians, fully vaccinated with Covishield, required to undergo 10-day quarantine as the UK had issues with India’s COVID-19 vaccine certification.
ALSO READ | US cannot stop issuing visas during travel bans, federal judge rules
India also imposed reciprocal action under which all British nationals arriving in India from the UK needed to undergo a mandatory 10-day quarantine even if they are fully vaccinated.
In its latest travel advisory, the UK said the government extended the inbound vaccinated arrivals system to a further 37 countries and territories across the globe including India, South Africa and Turkey, which meant eligible vaccinated passengers arriving from the rest of the world countries only need to take a “day two test in England”.
People familiar with the matter said Indian travellers who have received both doses of Covishield or another UK-approved vaccine will not also be required to take a pre-departure test nor take a day eight test following their arrival.
The UK initially refused to recognise Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII).
However, following India’s strong criticism of the decision, the UK on September 22 amended its new guidelines and included the vaccine.
The move did not provide any relief from quarantine rules for Indian travellers vaccinated with two doses of Covishield.
Later, British officials said the UK has issues with India’s vaccine certification process and not with the Covishield vaccine.
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External Affairs Minister Jaishankar meets Bangladesh I&B Minister Hasan Mahmud
By PTI
NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday met Bangladesh’s Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud and discussed bilateral issues.
“Glad to meet Bangladesh Information and Broadcasting Minister, Hasan Mahmud. Our bilateral cooperation is progressing steadily across all domains. Discussed media and public perceptions in that regard,” Jaishankar tweeted.
Mahmud is on an official visit to India.
There has been a flurry of visits between the two sides in the last few months notwithstanding the coronavirus pandemic.
Glad to meet Bangladesh Information and Broadcasting Minister, Hasan Mahmud.Our bilateral cooperation is progressing steadily across all domains. Discussed media and public perceptions in that regard. pic.twitter.com/CfaKun1D0t
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 7, 2021
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had paid a two-day visit to Bangladesh in March to attend events marking 50 years of the neighbouring country’s war of liberation.In April, Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane paid a five-day visit to Bangladesh to explore ways to further expand defence and military cooperation.
In June, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria travelled to the neighbouring country.
The year 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Bangladesh and the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
In reflection of close ties, India is also hosting a number of events to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1971 war that led to the liberation of Bangladesh.
Around 93,000 Pakistani troops had surrendered before the joint forces of the Indian Army and the “Mukti Bahini” on December 16, 1971, that paved way for the birth of Bangladesh.
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No serious connectivity initiative can ever be a one-way street: S Jaishankar
Jaishankar said there was a need to address not just physical infrastructure but all its accompanying facets while expanding connectivity between Central Asia and South Asia.
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External Affairs Minister Jaishankar set to visit Russia this week
By PTI
NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is set to visit Moscow this week to prepare the ground for the annual India-Russia summit and discuss the fast-evolving situation in Afghanistan, people familiar with the development said on Monday.Ways to boost cooperation under the framework of the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific and Cultural Cooperation as well as ties in the defence sector are also likely to figure in his talks in Moscow.
The external affairs minister is scheduled to hold extensive talks with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov.
The annual India-Russia summit was postponed last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Both countries have a mechanism under which India’s prime minister and the Russian president hold a summit meeting annually to review the entire gamut of ties.
So far, 20 annual summit meetings have taken place alternatively in India and Russia.
Russia has been a time-tested partner for India and the country has been a key pillar of New Delhi’s foreign policy.
The people cited above said a key focus area of the discussions will be the evolving situation in Afghanistan in the face of the withdrawal of the US forces from the country.
Afghanistan witnessed a series of attacks in the last few weeks as the United States looked to conclude the withdrawal of its forces from the war-ravaged country by September 11, ending nearly two decades of its military presence there.
India is concerned over the increasing levels of violence in Afghanistan as well as the Taliban’s efforts to expand its influence in the country.
Last month, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said the Taliban’s relentless pursuit of power through violence has created an uncertain environment in Afghanistan and the situation in the country is “fluid” at this point in time.
There has been a renewed push in the Afghan peace process including by Russia and it has been in touch with the key players and stakeholders in that country.
Lavrov visited India in April during which both sides discussed the preparations for the summit as well as other key bilateral and regional issues.
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India on track to meet its climate change mitigation commitments: S Jaishankar
Jaishankar said the renewable energy installed capacity in India has grown 162 per cent in the last five years.