News Analysis India

Tag: S Jaishankar

  • 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.

  • 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:

  • External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to visit three European nations from Thursday

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will begin on Thursday a four-day visit to Slovenia, Croatia and Denmark to boost bilateral ties and further strengthen India’s cooperation with the European Union (EU).

    Jaishankar’s first destination will be Slovenia where he is scheduled to attend an informal meeting of the foreign ministers of the EU member states on Friday.

    According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Jaishankar will begin his two-day trip to Slovenia on Thursday, during which he will hold a bilateral meeting with his Slovenian counterpart Anze Logar, apart from calling on the country’s leadership.

    Slovenia currently holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union, and it invited Jaishankar to attend the informal meeting of the foreign ministers of the EU states, the MEA said.

    Jaishankar will attend the Bled Strategic Forum (BSF) being held in Slovenia and participate in the panel discussion on ‘Partnership for a Rules-Based Order in the Indo-Pacific’. “He will also hold discussions with his EU counterparts on issues of mutual interest,” the MEA said in a statement.

    It is learnt that the evolving situation in Afghanistan is likely to figure prominently in Jaishankar’s meetings with his EU counterparts. “During his visit to Croatia on September 3, the External Affairs Minister (EAM) will hold bilateral talks with foreign minister Gordan Grlic Radman, and call on the Croatian leadership,” the MEA said.

    During his visit to Denmark from September 4-5, Jaishankar will co-chair the fourth round of the Indo-Danish Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) along with Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod. “The JCM will undertake a comprehensive review of our bilateral cooperation under the Green Strategic Partnership, which was established during the virtual summit in September 2020,” the MEA said.

    “The visit of EAM will provide an opportunity for reviewing the progress in our bilateral ties with the three Central European countries, and for strengthening our multifaceted relationship with the EU,” it said.

  • High-level group, including EAM Jaishankar monitoring developments in Afghanistan: Sources

    Official sources said on Tuesday that the group has been meeting regularly over the last few days following a direction from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

  • Centre to brief leaders of political parties on developments in Afghanistan

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The government will brief parliamentary leaders of various political parties on the developments in war-torn Afghanistan.

    External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi instructed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to brief the floor leaders of the political parties.

    “In view of developments in Afghanistan, PM @narendramodi has instructed that MEA brief Floor Leaders of political parties. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs @JoshiPralhad will be intimating further details,” Jaishankar tweeted.

    The government’s briefing is expected to focus on its evacuation mission from Afghanistan as well as its assessment of the situation in that country.

    The Taliban swept across Afghanistan this month, seizing control of almost all key towns and cities, including Kabul, following the withdrawal of the US forces from the country.

    In view of developments in Afghanistan, PM @narendramodi has instructed that MEA brief Floor Leaders of political parties.Minister of Parliamentary Affairs @JoshiPralhad will be intimating further details.
    — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 23, 2021
    As part of its evacuation mission from Afghanistan, India has already brought back around 730 people including members of the Afghan Sikh and Hindu communities.

    India on Monday brought back 146 of its nationals in four different flights from Qatar’s capital Doha, days after they were evacuated from Afghanistan by NATO and American aircraft in view of the deteriorating security situation in the war-torn country.

    ALSO WATCH:

    On Sunday, 392 people including two Afghan lawmakers were evacuated in three different flights under the evacuation mission The Taliban seized control of Kabul on August 15.

    Within two days of the Taliban’s capture of Kabul, India had evacuated 200 people, including the Indian envoy and other staffers of its embassy in the Afghan capital.

    The first evacuation flight brought back over 40 people, mostly staffers at the Indian embassy, on August 16.

    The second aircraft evacuated around 150 people including Indian diplomats, officials, security personnel and some stranded Indians from Kabul on August 17.

  • Jaishankar holds talks with Qatari counterpart in Doha on Afghanistan developments

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday held talks with his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani on the latest developments in Afghanistan as he stopped over in Qatar’s capital Doha on his way back home from a four-day visit to the US.

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

    The Taliban’s political leaders have been residing in the Gulf country for years.

    “Met Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani @MBA_AlThani_DPM & FM Qatar during my stop over in Doha. Had useful exchange of views on Afghanistan,” Jaishankar tweeted.

    The talks came five days after Afghan capital Kabul fell to the Taliban after it swept across Afghanistan, seizing control of almost all key towns and cities in an over month-long offensive following the withdrawal of the US forces.

    The Qatari foreign minister, who also holds the post of deputy prime minister, said the discussions included the recent developments in Afghanistan.

    “Delighted to welcome again my colleague @DrSJaishankar, #India’s Minister of External Affairs. Our discussion included ways of developing the historical relations between our two friendly nations, along with the recent developments in #Afghanistan,” he said on Twitter.

    On Tuesday, India completed the evacuation of all its diplomats and other staff members from Kabul under a difficult and complicated exercise, two days after the Taliban’s takeover of the Afghan capital.

    The mission to evacuate close to 200 people including the Indian envoy and other staffers in two military aircraft was accomplished with support from the US.

    Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports said the Taliban has been carrying out door-to-door searches of several embassies in Kabul and had gone to the Indian mission complex as well.

    Jaishankar had made two stopovers at Doha in June during his visit to Kenya and Kuwait.

    Qatar had also hosted talks between the Taliban and the United States.

    Earlier this month, Qatari special envoy for conflict resolution Mutlaq bin Majed Al-Qahtani visited India during which he met Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and J P Singh, the Joint Secretary in the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran division in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

  • Rewards for killings now even being paid in Bitcoins: EAM Jaishankar on ISIS

    By PTI

    UNITED NATIONS: The financial resource mobilisation of ISIS has become more robust, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told the United Nations on Thursday, emphasising that the flow of funds has continued for the dreaded terror group and rewards for killings are now even being paid in Bitcoins.

    Addressing a UNSC briefing on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, Jaishankar said the latest report of the Secretary-General has provided another stark reminder that ISIS continues to pose a critical threat to international peace and security.

    “ISIL (Daesh) remains active in Syria and Iraq and its affiliates are growing in strength, particularly in Africa. The financial resource mobilization of ISIL (Daesh) has become more robust. The flow of funds has continued and rewards for killings are now even being paid in Bitcoins!” he said.

    ​ALSO READ | Pakistan-based terror groups LeT, JeM operating with impunity, encouragement: India at UNSC

    Jaishankar said the radicalisation of vulnerable youth by systematic online propaganda campaigns remained a serious concern.

    He said ISIS’ modus operandi has changed, with the core focusing on regaining ground in Syria and Iraq and affiliates functioning independently.

    “This evolving phenomenon is extremely dangerous and poses a new set of challenges to our collective efforts in our fight against ISIL and terrorism,” Jaishankar said.

    “Let us always remember that what is true of Covid is even more true of terrorism: none of us are safe until all of us are safe,” he cautioned.

    Jaishankar outlined an eight-point action plan for consideration to collectively eliminate the scourge of terrorism which includes summoning of the political will and refraining from justifying or glorifying terrorism.

    ALSO READ | Countries should not place blocks and holds without any reason on requests to designate terrorists: India

    “No double standards. Terrorists are terrorists; distinctions are made only at our own peril,” he said.

    “Don’t place blocks and holds on listing requests without any reason, discourage exclusivist thinking and be on guard against new terminologies and false priorities,” he said.

    He also underlined the need to “enlist and delist objectively, not on political or religious considerations. Recognise the linkage to organised crime.”

    Support and strengthen the FATF, and provide greater funding to UN Office of Counter Terrorism, he added.

    Jaishankar called on the UN Security Council to collectively build on these principles.

    “It is also important to end the stalemate preventing the adoption of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, which India has championed for so long,” he said.

    The External Affairs Minister said India has been at the forefront of global counter-terrorism efforts, has taken part in all major global initiatives against international terrorism and is a party to all United Nations’ sectoral conventions relating to terrorism.

    “We were pleased to play our role in strengthening the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy adopted last month. We reiterate our full support for counter-terrorism cooperation under the auspices of the UN,” he said.

  • India ‘very carefully’ following developments in Afghanistan: EAM Jaishankar

    By PTI

    UNITED NATIONS: With the Taliban now in control in Kabul, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday said New Delhi is ‘very carefully’ following the developments in Afghanistan and India’s focus is on ensuring the security and safe return of Indian nationals still in the war-torn country.

    Jaishankar, addressing reporters at the UN Security Council stakeout after chairing an open-debate on peacekeeping under India’s current UNSC Presidency, said “that (situation in Afghanistan) is really what has been very much the focus of my own engagements here, talking to the UN Secretary General and other colleagues who are here as well as the US Secretary of State.”

    “At the moment we are, like everybody else, very carefully following developments in Afghanistan. I think our focus is on ensuring the security in Afghanistan and the safe return of Indian nationals who are there,” he said.

    ALSO READ | UN peacekeeping missions continue to operate in challenging settings involving terrorists: Jaishankar at UNSC

    Jaishankar has discussed the situation in Afghanistan in his bilateral meetings here, including with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

    He arrived in New York on Monday as the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on the situation in Afghanistan, the second time in just over the 10 days that the powerful UN body met under India’s Presidency for the month of August to discuss the situation in the war-torn country.

    India on Tuesday rushed back home its ambassador Tandon and staff from the embassy in Kabul in a military transport aircraft following escalating tension, fear and uncertainty gripping the Afghan capital after the Taliban insurgents seized the Afghan capital on Sunday.

    ALSO WATCH:The C-17 Globemaster aircraft of the Indian Air Force carrying around 150 people, including diplomats, officials, security personnel and some stranded Indians, landed at the Hindon airbase near the national capital at around 5 PM after a brief halt at Jamnagar in Gujarat, in the wake of escalating tension, fear and uncertainty gripping the Afghan capital after its take over by the Taliban two days back.

  • Getting out Indian envoy, mission staff from Afghan was ‘difficult, complicated’: Jaishankar says in US

    By PTI

    NEW YORK: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that the movement of the Indian Ambassador and the Embassy staff from war-torn Afghanistan to India was a “difficult and complicated exercise” as he thanked those who cooperated and facilitated the efforts.

    Jaishankar, who is in the US on a four-day visit to attend a number of UN Security Council events, including a briefing on terrorism that will be held under India’s presidency of the powerful body, took to Twitter to share details about New Delhi’s efforts to get Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Rudrendra Tandon and the Embassy staff out from Kabul.

    “Movement of the Indian Ambassador and the Embassy staff from Kabul to India was a difficult and complicated exercise. Thank all those whose cooperation and facilitation made it possible,” he said in a tweet.

    ​ALSO READ | Have not abandoned people of Afghanistan: Indian envoy Rudrendra Tandon

    Jaishankar’s visit to New York is taking place in the backdrop of the Taliban’s rapid onslaught in Afghanistan and the issue is likely to figure in his talks with UN officials.

    The C-17 Globemaster aircraft of the Indian Air Force carrying around 150 people, including diplomats, officials, security personnel and some stranded Indians, landed at the Hindon airbase near the national capital at around 5 PM after a brief halt at Jamnagar in Gujarat, in the wake of escalating tension, fear and uncertainty gripping the Afghan capital after its take over by the Taliban two days back.

    It is the second evacuation flight as another C-17 aircraft brought back around 40 people from the Hamid Karzai International (HKI) Airport in Kabul on Monday as part of India’s emergency evacuation mission that was carried out following coordination with relevant authorities including US officials handling security at the airport in the Afghan capital.

    ALSO WATCH:

  • Legitimacy cannot be derived from mass violence, brutal intimidation: Jaishankar on Taliban regime

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Legitimacy cannot be derived from mass violence, brutal intimidation or covert agendas in the 21st century, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday in an oblique reference to the widespread violence perpetrated by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

    In an address at an online event, he also underlined the need for a “clear, coordinated and undifferentiated” response to terrorism, saying its “nursery” lies in conflict-ridden spaces.

    Jaishankar said structural inertia, competitive gridlocks, uneven resourcing and skewed navigation have disadvantaged the multilateral institutions, resulting in certain “gaps”.

    “Terrorism thrives in some of these gaps. Its nursery lies in conflict-ridden spaces made fertile for radicalisation by malign players including states,” he said.

    “The transition in Afghanistan that we are seeing today and the warfare that has yet again been forced upon its people has sharpened this challenge. Left unattended, its edge will be deeply felt; not just in Afghanistan’s neighbourhood but well beyond,” he said.

    Jaishankar said all stakeholders need to focus on dealing with the challenges.

    “In the 21st century, legitimacy cannot be derived from mass violence, brutal intimidation or covert agendas.

    Representation, inclusion, peace and stability are inextricably linked,” he said.

    The Taliban has been making rapid advances across Afghanistan by resorting to widespread violence since the US began withdrawing its troops 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 a major stakeholder in the peace and stability of Afghanistan.

    It has already invested nearly USD 3 billion in aid and reconstruction activities in the country.

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

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