News Analysis India

Tag: Jaishankar

  • EAM Jaishankar holds talks with Nepalese counterpart Pradeep Kumar Gyawali

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday held talks with his Nepalese counterpart Pradeep Kumar Gyawali with a focus on various key aspects of the bilateral relations.

    The talks are taking place under the framework of the Indo-Nepal joint commission meeting (JCM), officials said.

    Gyawali arrived here on Thursday on a three-day visit.

    He is the first senior political leader from Nepal to visit India after the ties between the two countries came under strain following a border row.

    External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava on Thursday gave clear indication that the boundary issue is unlikely to be discussed at the JCM.

    Responding to questions on the border row, he said at a media briefing: “Our position on the boundary issue is well known. Let me say that the JCM and boundary talks are separate mechanisms.”

    He said the JCM is an important mechanism that provides the opportunity of reviewing the entire gamut of bilateral partnership and providing political guidance to further enhance the unique ties between the two countries.

    “We look forward to constructive discussions on the numerous sectors that encompass our bilateral agenda,” he said.

  • Mumbai blasts perpetrators enjoying 5-star hospitality under State protection: Jaishankar tells UNSC

    By PTI
    UNITED NATIONS: India on Tuesday asserted that the international community must not allow terrorism to be justified and terrorists glorified as it told the UN Security Council that the crime syndicate responsible for the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts is given not just State protection but enjoying 5-star hospitality, a thinly-veiled reference to the D-company head Dawood Ibrahim believed to be hiding in Pakistan.

    “First, we must all summon up the political will to unhesitatingly combat terrorism. There must be no ifs and buts in this fight. Nor should we allow terrorism to be justified and terrorists glorified. All member States must fulfill their obligations enshrined in international counter terrorism instruments and conventions,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in a virtual address.

    Jaishankar was speaking at the UNSC Ministerial Meeting on ‘Threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts: International cooperation in combating terrorism 20 years after the adoption of resolution 1373 (2001),’ the first address by the minister to the Security Council after India began its two-year tenure on the 15-nation body this month.

    Jaishankar proposed an eight-point Action Plan for the UN system to credibly address the menace of terrorism and ensure effective action.

    He asserted that linkages between terrorism and transnational organised crime must be fully recognised and addressed vigorously.

    He is the senior-most Indian leader to address the UNSC since India joined the powerful 15-member UN body as a non-permanent member this month for a two-year tenure.

    “We, in India, have seen the crime syndicate responsible for the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts not just given State protection but actually enjoying 5-star hospitality,” he said, alluding to D-Company and its head Ibrahim, believed to be hiding in Pakistan.

    In August last year, Pakistan had for the first time acknowledged the presence of Ibrahim on its soil after the government imposed sweeping sanctions on 88 banned terror groups and their leaders which also included the name of the underworld don wanted by India.

    Jaishankar emphasised that the international community must not “countenance double standards” in the battle against terrorism.

    “Terrorists are terrorists; there are no good and bad ones. Those who propagate this distinction have an agenda. And those who cover up for them are just as culpable,” he said.

    In a strongly-worded statement, Jaishankar said combating terrorist financing will only be as effective as the weakest jurisdiction.

    The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) should continue to identify and remedy weaknesses in anti-money laundering and counter-terror financing frameworks.

    He also added that enlisting and delisting individuals and entities under the UN sanctions regimes must be done objectively, not for political or religious considerations.

  • Jaishankar Discusses Strengthening Ties With Qatari Counterpart; Highlights Opportunities

    Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar, on December 27, met his Qatari counterpart and discussed ways to strengthen trade and business partnerships between both the countries. Jaishankar is currently on a two-day visit to Qatar where he is scheduled to meet other dignitaries in addition to deputy PM Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani. Revealing details of his visit, the External Affairs Minister tweeted that both the parties held a business roundtable wherein he introduced the Qatari leadership to opportunities flowing out from “Atmanirbhar Bharat.” He also expressed his gratitute to Sheikh Khalifa and Sheikh Faisal, the Chairpersons of QCCI (Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry) and QBA (Qatari Businessmen Association).

     As per a statement, the Indian diplomat-turned-minister would also convey gratitude to the state of Qatar for taking care of and providing necessary support to the Indians stuck in Qatar during the pandemic. Currently, Qatar hosts as many as 7 lakh Indians. Both India and Qatar have strong economic, political and cultural ties which are propelled by frequent meetings and interactions between leaders from both sides, the release regarding the visit stated.

  • UK’s PM Boris Johnson to be Chief Guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations: UK Foreign Secretary

    UK’s PM Boris Johnson has accepted an invitation to be Chief Guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations, said UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab on Tuesday.

    “I am absolutely delighted to be visiting India next year at the start of an exciting year for Global Britain, and look forward to delivering the quantum leap in our bilateral relationship that Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi and I have pledged to achieve,” Johnson said in a statement.

    “As a key player in the Indo-Pacific region, India is an increasingly indispensable partner for the United Kingdom as we work to boost jobs and growth, confront shared threats to our security and protect our planet.”Reacting to the news, Jaishankar said that his visit will be symbolic of a new era in Indo-UK ties.

  • China’s ‘carefully developed goodwill’ will dissipate due to border stand-off, says Jaishankar

    Foreign minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said the border stand-off with India is not in China’s interest as it has “significantly impacted” public sentiment against it in India.
    “I believe what has happened is not actually in the interest of China as it significantly impacted public sentiment,” Jaishankar was quoted as saying.
    “Professionally, I have seen the evolution of how the Indian public feels about China over the last many decades and I am old enough to remember much more difficult days, especially in my childhood and in my teens,” he said.
    Jaishankar added that he thinks the present Ladakh stand-off with China is a challenge for India, saying he’s confident India will rise to the occassion.

  • China is fully responsible for the ongoing tension in eastern Ladakh

    China is entirely responsible for the ongoing tension in eastern Ladakh. India has stated in unambiguous terms that the military standoff in eastern Ladakh in the last six months is the result of Chinese actions as China is trying to unilaterally change the situation on the Line of Actual Control.

    Foreign Ministry spokesman Anurag Shrivastava said that our stance has been very clear, which has been mentioned many times in the past. The situation we are witnessing for the last six months is the result of the actions of the Chinese side which has tried to unilaterally change the situation on LAC in East Ladakh. He said that the Chinese action is a violation of bilateral relations and protocols to ensure peace and stability on LAC in Indo-China border areas.

    The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman had once again held India responsible for the border deadlock in eastern Ladakh. The Chinese official reacted to Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar’s comment, stating that bilateral relations have been severely damaged after violations of various bilateral agreements on behalf of China and Beijing’s actions India has given five different interpretations.

    Srivastava said that we have taken cognizance of China’s statement in which it stated that it strictly abides by bilateral agreements and is committed to resolving the border issue through dialogue and safeguarding peace and stability in the border areas. Used to be.

  • Jaishankar Hails ‘natural Partner’, Notes Benefits Of Closure Cooperation

    India and the European Union (EU) on November 23 held virtual talks and discussed a range of issues including the area of nuclear, chemical and biological disarmament along with matters related to outer space and export control regimes. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that the discussion in that took place remotely was under the framework of the sixth round of consultations on disarmament and non-proliferation. The MEA also said that the consultations were targetted at developing mutual understanding and appreciation between both the India and European Union on international security issues.

    Minister of External Affairs, Dr S Jaishankar also spoke at India-Europe Strategy Group on November 23  aimed at uniting main European and Indian stakeholders to share their experiences and discuss the future relationship after the COVID-19 pandemic. In another step forward towards India-EU relations, Jaishankar said that India is “encouraged” about Portugal assuming the presidency of the European Council because according to MEA, its leadership can make a “big difference” in the partnership. MEA also called Europe as a “natural partner”.

    “Europe is a natural partner when it comes to resources, technology or best practises. On their part, the Europeans need to appreciate the scale of this change and the opportunities that emerge from it. Whether it is access to electricity or drinking water, financial inclusion or low-cost housing, we are talking of hundreds of millions being directly impacted in a very short time frame,” he added.

  • Beka’ pact: Pakistan raises questions on India’s missile test

    The ministerial meeting between India and the US on Tuesday under 2 + 2 talks, in which several key defense agreements including Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) were reached. Explain that under the Beka Agreement, the two countries will share each other with state-of-the-art military technology, equipment and geospatial maps. In the meeting, from the Indian side, Foreign Minister S.K. Jaishankar and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, while Foreign Minister Mike Pompeo and Defense Minister Mark Asper from the US were involved in this meeting. Apart from this, the presence of top military and security officers was also present in the meeting. The two countries discussed business, security, strategic and strategic cooperation of the Indian and Pacific Ocean regions. The Beka Agreement was signed by Additional Secretary Jiveesh Nandan on behalf of India. Pakistan has issued a statement saying that frequent missile tests conducted by India recently are an expression of dangerous Indian conventional and nuclear military construction. This has again confirmed the concerns of many international experts regarding high-tech military trade with India, which has not only eroded international norms, but has also negatively affected strategic stability in South Asia.

  • Rajnath Singh Economies have suffered, we are trying to revive industries and service sectors

    India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue is underway at Hyderabad House. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper are attending it.

    Later the two visiting Secretaries will call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence. The US officials then will leave for Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia.

    Pompeo and Esper arrived in New Delhi on Monday for 2+2 inter-ministerial talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

    The visit also comes at a time when India and China are locked in a serious military stand-off along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh.

    We are happy that we’ve completed the BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement), which will open new avenues in the information sharing. We are eager to discuss further issues with U.S.: Home Minister Rajnath Singh during India-U.S. 2+2 Ministerial dialogue

    Over the last two decades, our bilateral relationship has grown steadily. At a time when it is particularly important to uphold the rules-based international order…together we can make a real difference when it comes to regional & global challenges: EAM S Jaishankar

    Our economies have suffered losses. We’re trying to revive industries & services sectors. Our partnership becomes more important in view of current challenges we’re facing. We both believe in rule-based order & democracy: Home Minister Rajnath Singh during India-US 2+2 dialogue

    Earlier, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at Hyderabad House.