Page 26 - External Affairs Ministry

Vinay Mohan Kwatra gets 14-month extension as Foreign Secretary: Report

Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra has been granted a 14-month extension in the post beyond his date of superannuation on December 31 this year, a Personnel Ministry order said. Kwatra had assumed office as Foreign Secretary on May 1 this year, succeeding Harsh Vardhan Shringla to the post. "The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved extension in service to Vinay Mohan Kwatra, (IFS:1988), as Foreign Secretary beyond the date of his superannuation i.e. 31.12.2022 up to 30.04.2024 or until further orders, whichever is earlier," a government order said. The extension of his tenure comes at a time when India is assuming the presidency of the G-20. India is set to host the G-20 Summit next year. Earlier, Kwatra was serving as India's envoy to Nepal. Kwatra is known to have extensive expertise in dealing with India's neighbourhood as well as the US, China and Europe.

Are countries using visas as weapons to fight diplomatic battles?

While India does seem to be facing the rough end of visa diplomacy, barriers are going up globally

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar speaks to British counterpart Cleverly

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday spoke to his British counterpart James Cleverly on a day Rishi Sunak took charge as the UK's first Indian-origin prime minister. In the Cabinet reshuffle being effected by Sunak, Cleverly is set to stay as the foreign secretary. In a tweet, Jaishankar said he and the British foreign secretary discussed counter-terror cooperation, bilateral ties and the Ukraine conflict. "Received a call from UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly. Discussed counter-terrorism, bilateral relations and the Ukraine conflict," Jaishankar said. On his part, Cleverly said, "Great to speak with India's External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar today." "We discussed the Russia-Ukraine crisis and that the UK will be challenging Russia's rhetoric and allegations during the UNSC today," he said. In his first address at the doorstep of 10 Downing Street in London, Sunak said that he takes over at a time when the UK is facing a "profound economic crisis" as it dea

India-US relationship today impacts rest of the world: S Jaishankar

EAM S Jaishankar said that the relationship between India and US today impacts the rest of the world as there are a lot of countries which look to the association individually and bilaterally

EAM Jaishankar to visit US from Sept 18 to attend UNGA, BRICS, Quad meets

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will pay an 11-day visit to the US beginning Sunday to attend the UN General Assembly and participate in meetings of Quad, BRICS and several other key groupings. He is also scheduled to hold talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other senior officials of the Biden Administration. Jaishankar will be in New York from September 18 to 24, while he will visit Washington DC from September 25 to 28, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). In New York, the external affairs minister (EAM) will be leading the India delegation for the "high-level week" at the 77th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), it said. The theme of the 77th UNGA is "A Watershed Moment: Transformative Solutions to Interlocking Challenges." Jaishankar's address at the UNGA session is scheduled in the forenoon of September 24. "In keeping with India's strong commitment to reformed multilateralism, the EAM will be hosting a ministerial meeting of the

India, China to conclude disengagement in Gogra-Hotsprings by Sept 12: MEA

India and China will complete the disengagement process in the Gogra-Hotsprings area in eastern Ladakh by September 12, the External Affairs Ministry said on Friday. The ministry's comment came a day after the Indian and Chinese armies announced that they have begun to disengage from the Gogra-Hotsprings Patrolling Point 15, where the two sides have been locked in a standoff for over two years. The two sides have also agreed to take the talks forward and resolve remaining issues and restore peace and tranquility along LAC in India-China border areas, the MEA said. "It has been agreed that all temporary structures and other allied infrastructure created in the area by both sides will be dismantled and mutually verified. The landforms in the area will be restored to the pre-standoff period by both sides," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said in response to queries on the issue.

World recognizes India capable of defending its interests: S Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said the world recognizes that India is capable of defending its interests

Jaishankar visits under construction first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi

External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar who is on a three-day visit to United Arab Emirates (UAE) visited the under-construction Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi said to be the first traditional temple

We condemn horrific attack on Rushdie and wish him a speedy recovery: MEA

In its first reaction to the stabbing of author Salman Rushdie, India on Thursday condemned the "horrific attack" and wished him a speedy recovery. Rushdie was stabbed in the neck and torso at the Chautauqua Institution in New York on August 12 where he had gone to deliver a lecture. "India has always stood against violence and extremism. We condemn the horrific attack on Salman Rushdie and we wish him a speedy recovery," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at his weekly media briefing.

Taiwan: India pitches for avoiding unilateral actions to change status quo

In its first reaction to the tensions, India, without naming either China or Taiwan, said it is concerned over the developments and pitched for efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region.

PM Modi reshaped India's foreign policy with national interest at core: EAM

Elaborating on the country's foreign policy, Jaishankar said that a large element of this is also the manner in which the Prime Minister carries himself.

No proposal for bilateral trade deal with Afghanistan: MoS Muraleedharan

He said, the govt has seen reports regarding the proposed extension of the so-called CPEC, and said any such actions by any party directly infringe on India's sovereignty and territorial integrity

Hitting the mark on defence exports

Even a cursory look at the drivers of Indian defence exports reveals the salience of simplified industrial licensing, easing of export restrictions, and issuance of no-objection certificates

India witnessing lot of changes over the last 8 years: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday said India has witnessed a lot of changes in the last eight years under the NDA rule and the difference was evident in a lot of sectors

India, China ties show 'momentum of recovery': Wang Yi tells Jaishankar

The ties between China and India have generally shown a "momentum of recovery" as the two countries have maintained communication and effectively managed their differences, Wang Yi said

Chinese companies operating in India need to follow law of land: MEA

Chinese companies operating in India need to follow the law of the land, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday, a day after China reacted to the ongoing probe into alleged irregularities

EAM Jaishankar greets people of Solomon Islands on their national day

'Greetings to FM Jeremiah Manele and the Government and the people of Solomon Islands on their National Day,' Jaishankar tweeted

India at G7 summits shows West needs its support: Foreign Secretary Kwatra

Modi will be holding bilateral meetings and discussions with the leaders of G7 and also the guest countries on the sidelines of the G7 summit

India raises issue of delay in granting student visa with several countries

Thousands of Indian students are struggling to return to several countries to join off-line classes as there have been enormous delays in processing of their visas by the respective embassies

Diplomat Ruchira Kamboj to become India's Permanent Representative to UN

Senior diplomat Ruchira Kamboj was on Tuesday appointed India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York. Kamboj, a 1987-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, is presently serving as India's envoy to Bhutan. She will succeed T S Tirumurti as the Indian ambassador to the UN. Kamboj is expected to take up the assignment shortly, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a brief statement.