Page 10 - Ministry Of External Affairs

Pakistan expels Indian high commission staffer in tit-for-tat move

Pakistan government on Thursday announced expulsion of a staffer of the Indian High Commission. India on Wednesday expelled a Pakistani official working at the Pakistan high commission on charges of involvement in espionage, in the second such expulsion in a week, people familiar with the matter said. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the staffer at the Pakistan mission has been declared "persona non grata" for indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status and that he has been given 24 hours to leave India. On May 13, India had expelled another Pakistani official for allegedly indulging in espionage. Following India's action, Pakistan had also expelled an Indian staffer posted at the Indian high commission in Islamabad. According to a statement by the Foreign Office, the "Government of Pakistan has declared a staff member of the High Commission of India, Islamabad, as persona non grata for engaging in activities inconsistent with his privileged status.

EAM Jaishankar wishes Montenegro FM Ibrahimovic on their Independence Day

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday extended his greetings to Montenegro on their Independence day.Jaishankar also shared an old picture of himself with Montenegro Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimovic.In a post on X, Jaishankar said, "Warm greetings to DPM & FM Ervin Ibrahimovic, the Government and the people of Montenegro on their Independence Day. Deeply value our friendship and cooperation."Earlier the two leaders met on the sidelines of 79th UNGA (United Nations General Assembly) in New York on September 27, 2024."Nice to meet DPM & FM Ervin Ibrahimovic of Montenegro today on sidelines of UNGA 79. Our conversation focussed on advancing cooperation in business, health and tourism," Jaishankar stated.On October 28, India and Montenegro held the third round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) on Monday in Podgorica, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.The Indian side was led by Arun Kumar Sahu, Additional Secretary (Central Europe ...

Jaishankar meets Danish PM, thanks Denmark for support against terrorism

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday thanked Denmark for its solidarity and support in combating terrorism as he held talks with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen. Jaishankar arrived here in the evening in the second leg of his three-nation tour to the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany. In a post on X, Jaishankar thanked Prime Minister Frederiksen for "warmly receiving" him in Copenhagen. During the meeting, Jaishankar conveyed personal greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed gratitude for Denmark's unwavering support in combating terrorism. "Conveyed the personal greetings of PM @narendramodi. Thank Denmark for its solidarity and support in combating terrorism," he said in the X post. Jaishankar appreciated Prime Minister Frederiksen's guidance in advancing India-Denmark partnership and highlighted the shared commitment to addressing global challenges through sustainable solutions. "Value PM Frederiksen's guidance to take forward

Jaishankar thanks Dutch PM for his nation's firm stance against terrorism

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday called on Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof and thanked him for the Netherlands' firm and resolute stance against terrorism. Jaishankar is here on the first leg of his three-nation trip that will also take him to Denmark and Germany. It is Jaishankar's first foreign visit after the four-day-long military confrontation between the Indian and Pakistani armed forces following the Pahalgam attack. "Delighted to call on PM Dick Schoof today in The Hague. Conveyed the warm greetings of PM @narendramodi and thanked him for the Netherlands' firm and resolute stance against terrorism," Jaishankar posted on X. "Appreciate his commitment to taking the India-Netherlands partnership to newer heights. Assured that our teams will work hard to achieve these goals," he posted. Schoof said he was happy to receive Jaishankar at the Catshuis, the official residence of the Prime Minister of the Netherlands. "First of all, I expressed my support for Ind

Close cooperation with India more vital than ever: Netherlands defence min

EAM Jaishankar arrived in the Netherlands early Monday (IST) to hold discussions with the country's leadership

If US can extradite terrorists, Pak can give us Saeed, Lakhvi: Indian envoy

Calling upon to form an international coalition against terrorism, India's Ambassador to Israel JP Singh, has stressed that India's Operation Sindoor against Pakistan is "paused" and "not over", demanding that Islamabad should handover key terrorists Hafiz Saeed, Sajid Mir and Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi just like US did with one of the masterminds of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, Tahawwur Hussain Rana. Narrating the incidents leading up to India's offensive, Singh in an interview with Israeli TV channel i24 on Monday said that the operation was initially against terror groups in Pakistan. "The terrorists killed people based on their religion. They asked people their religion before killing them and 26 innocent lives were lost", the Indian ambassador said citing the Pahalgam attack of April 22. "India's operation was against terror groups and their infrastructure to which Pakistan responded by attacking India's military installations", he emphasised. Asked if the ceasefire is holding and if

Jaishankar arrives in Netherlands on first leg of three-nation tour

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday arrived in the Netherlands to hold discussions with the country's leadership to further boost bilateral ties. Jaishankar is here on the first leg of his three-nation trip that will also take him to Denmark and Germany. This is Jaishankar's first foreign visit after the four-day-long military confrontation between Indian and Pakistani armed forces. "EAM @DrSJaishankar arrived in the Netherlands on an official visit today. He was welcomed by Ambassador @ktuhinv and Gabriella Sancisi, Director, Protocol and Host Country Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The visit will further boost the India-Netherlands ties," the Indian Embassy in the Hague posted on X. Jaishankar will meet the leadership of the three countries and hold discussions with his counterparts on the entire gamut of bilateral relations and regional and global matters of mutual interest. It is expected that Jaishankar will also apprise his counterparts in the .

Won't be 'intimidated': Indian mission in Portugal on Pakistani protest

India will "not be intimidated" by "desperate provocations", the Indian embassy in Portugal has said after a Pakistani group staged a protest outside its chancery building here. The embassy said in a post on X on Sunday that it responded firmly with 'Operation Sindoor' to the "cowardly" protest. Under Operation Sindoor, India carried out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) early on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. "Embassy of India @IndiainPortugal responded firmly with Operation Sindoor' to the cowardly protest organised by Pakistan near our Chancery building," said the post. "India will not be intimidated by such desperate provocations. Our resolve remains unshaken," it said. It also thanked the Portuguese government and police for their support in ensuring the embassy's safety and security. In a separate post on X, India's Ambassador to Portugal Puneet Kundal said that the protesters were met with

Rahul Gandhi targets EAM Jaishankar, says his silence is 'damning'

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday launched a fresh attack on External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, saying his silence on the number of aircraft India "lost" after Pakistan was "informed" about the military action under Operation Sindoor is "damning". The Congress leader had earlier also targeted the government on the issue, suggesting that the Indian side informed Pakistan ahead of the military strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). "EAM Jaishankar's silence isn't just telling, it's damning. So I'll ask again: How many Indian aircraft did we lose because Pakistan knew?" he asked in a post on X. "This wasn't a lapse. It was a crime. And the nation deserves the truth," Gandhi also said. Gandhi had earlier shared an undated video clip of Jaishankar and wrote, "Informing Pakistan at the start of our attack was a crime. EAM has publicly admitted that GOI (government of India) did it." "Who authorised it? How many aircraft did our air

EAM embarks on 6-day visit to Netherlands, Denmark, Germany on Monday

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will embark on a six-day visit of the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany beginning Monday during which he is expected to highlight Pakistan's relentless support to cross-border terrorism. It will be Jaishankar's first foreign visit after the four-day-long military confrontation between Indian and Pakistani armed forces. "External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will pay an official visit to the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany from May 19 to 24," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Sunday. It said Jaishankar will meet the leadership of the three countries and hold discussions with his counterparts on the entire gamut of bilateral relations and regional and global matters of mutual interest. It is expected that Jaishankar will also apprise his counterparts in the three nations about India's decision to launch Operation Sindoor following the Pahalgam terror attack. Under Operation Sindoor, India on early May 7 destroyed nine terror ...

'Vain, preposterous': India on China's attempts to name places in Arunachal

'Creative naming won't alter reality. Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always remain a part of India': Ministry of External Affairs responds to China

MEA gives Pak official 24 hrs to leave, refutes Trump’s mediation claims & more | India-Pakistan

The MEA in its weekly briefing yesterday, on May 13, addressed several pressing issues concerning India at this crucial hour including Trump's repeated attempts at taking credit for ceasefire

Bangladesh defends Awami League ban as internal matter, cites security

Elections are entirely Bangladesh's internal matter, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus' top aide has said, adding the ban on former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's party was necessary to protect national security and sovereignty. Yunus' Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam was reacting to concerns raised by India on the ban imposed on the activities of Hasina's Awami League. Bangladesh on Monday officially disbanded Awami League under an overnight revised anti-terrorism law. Elections are entirely our internal matter. We urge all to respect the sovereign will of our people in matters relating to elections, Alam told Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), the state-run news agency, on Tuesday. The ban on activities of the Awami League is necessary to protect national security and sovereignty, Alam added. India's External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Tuesday said the ban on Awami League without due process is a concerning development. New Delhi also called for early holding of fr

India rejects Trump's claim of averting nuclear clash with Pakistan

Responding to a question during a briefing Tuesday evening, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said "military action was entirely in the conventional domain"

'Vacate illegally occupied territory', India's stern message to Pak on PoK

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the only issue India has with Islamabad regarding Kashmir is the return of illegally-occupied territories to India by Pakistan

Foreign secy Misri to brief Parl panel on India-Pakistan conflict on May 19

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will brief a parliamentary committee next week on the India-Pakistan military conflict in the aftermath of the terror attack in Pahalgam. Members of the Standing Committee on External Affairs have been informed that Misri would brief the panel on May 19. The meeting comes in the backdrop of the Indian Armed Forces launching Operation Sindoor to avenge the Pahalgam attack and the subsequent military actions by the two countries against each other. Misri will brief the panel on the "current foreign policy developments regarding India and Pakistan". The two sides on May 10 reached an understanding on halting all military actions.

Man leading funeral of terrorists killed in Op Sindoor on US wanted list

In trying to portray a globally sanctioned terrorist as a "common man", Pakistan was exposed when its top official publically outed crucial details about Hafiz Abdul Rauf, including his national identity number which matched details in the database of the US sanction list of terrorists. Pakistan's Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry in a press conference made an attempt to portray Rauf as a common man with "three daughters, son" who had led the prayers of terrorists killed at the Lashkar-e-Taiba headquarter in Mudrike, Pakistan's Punjab, during Operation Sindoor. During the presentation, Chaudhry gave his Computerized National Identity Card number 35202-5400413-9 besides giving his date of birth March 25, 1973 and that he was a resident of Lahore. These details match with the details about Rauf given in the database of Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Treasury department, which maintains a list of Specially Designated ...

Meet Vikram Misri: From ad world to India's face during Pak border row

Vikram Misri emerged as the government's key voice during India-Pakistan tensions, leading briefings on Operation Sindoor, ceasefire talks, and border responses

Pak used 300-400 drones at 36 sites in infiltration attempts: India

Pakistani drones that were shot down were manufactured in Turkiye, Col Sofiya Qureshi said at the MEA briefing on May 9

We should remain hopeful India-Pak conflict doesn't escalate: MEA official

In the backdrop of the ongoing military conflict between India and Pakistan, a senior official in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said "we should remain hopeful" that the existing situation does not escalate. Secretary (Economic Relations) in the MEA, Dammu Ravi, said this in response to a query during an event on the impact of any conflict on the economy and the resilience required in such matters, especially in view of the current scenario. Prior to his interaction with the audience, Ravi addressed the event hosted by the Public Affairs Forum of India (PAFI), held in the shadow of the military flare-up between India and Pakistan. "Security, development and economic growth are highly inter-linked concepts around the world. So, in a conflict situation, the industry will naturally recoil, and keep on one side and take time for the situation to improve," Ravi said. "We should remain hopeful that the existing conflict does not escalate, and subsides," he said, without