Page 14 - Ministry Of External Affairs

Kashmir invasion was made into dispute: Jaishankar demands strong, fair UN

In his remarks at Raisina Dialogue 2025, termed sovereignty and territorial integrity the "bedrock of global rules," and highlighted the need for an international order

India, EU discuss bilateral ties, parliamentary exchanges, global issues

During EU President Ursula von der Leyen's visit to India in February, both parties directed their teams to conclude Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations by the end of the year

PM Modi helped persuade Putin against using nuclear weapon: Polish minister

Bartoszewski stated that Putin had "threatened" to use tactical nuclear weapons on Ukrainian territory, but calls from India and China influenced his decision to reconsider

India seeks to strengthen its defence cooperation with Five Eyes

New Delhi has some form of pact with four of the grouping's members

Parliamentary panels' reports on defence, external affairs tabled in House

The MoD ranked second after the MoF in terms of budgetary allocations for 2025-26, while the MEA ranked 22nd

PM Modi raises concerns with New Zealand PM over pro-Khalistani activities

India and New Zealand on Monday inked an ambitious pact to institutionalise defence ties and vowed to boost cooperation in the Indo-Pacific even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged concerns to his Kiwi counterpart Christopher Luxon over certain pro-Khalistani elements indulging in anti-India activities in the island nation. Following talks between Modi and Luxon, the two sides signed six agreements to ramp up cooperation in several areas including education, sports, agriculture and climate change, and decided to prepare a roadmap for cooperation in the defence industry sector. Both prime ministers welcomed the launch of negotiations for a "balanced, ambitious, comprehensive, and mutually beneficial" free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries to achieve deeper economic integration. Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs Jaideep Mazumdar indicated that the two countries will try to seal the FTA by the end of this year. In his media statement, Modi said Ind

Current MEA budget not reflective of India's growing stature: Parl panel

A parliamentary panel has said the current budget allocation to the MEA "does not adequately support" India's foreign policy priorities and international stature, and called for a substantial increase in it to ensure India can meet its diplomatic and development objectives effectively and assert its growing influence on the world stage. The allocation in the budget estimates (BE) 2025-26, at Rs 20,516.61 crores, represents a 7.39 per cent reduction from BE 2024-25 and an 18.83 per cent decrease compared to the revised estimates (RE) for 2024-25, it said. The 'Fifth Report of the Committee on External Affairs (2024-25) on Demands for Grants (2025-26)' of the panel, chaired by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, was presented in Parliament on Monday. "Upon a detailed examination of the budgetary allocation of the Ministry of External Affairs for the fiscal year 2025-26, the Committee observe with dismay that despite India's growing global profile and expanding diplomatic and development ...

PM Modi to begin Raisina Dialogue today; New Zealand PM to be chief guest

Nearly 3,700 attendees and over 800 speakers and delegates from around 130 countries worldwide will attend the Raisina Dialogue

Highlights: PM Modi to visit Sri Lanka next month to finalise bilateral deals

Latest news updates: Catch all the latest news developments from around the world here

PM Modi to visit Sri Lanka next month to finalise bilateral agreements

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Sri Lanka early next month to finalise agreements reached during President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's visit to Delhi last year, a minister said on Saturday. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath made the statement while responding to a question on budget allocation debate in the parliament here. We have maintained a close relationship with our neighbour India. Our first diplomatic visit was to India, where we reached several agreements on bilateral cooperation," Herath said. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive here early April," he added. Herath said that during PM Modi's visit, several new memoranda of understandings will be signed, in addition to the opening of the Sampur solar power station. In 2023, the state power entity Ceylon Electricity Board and India's NTPC agreed to build a 135 MW solar power plant in Sampur town of eastern Trincomalee district. Herath said the National People's Power (NPP) government's goodwill policy

India slams Pak for 'unjustified' reference to Jammu and Kashmir in UNGA

India has slammed Pakistan for its "unjustified" reference to Jammu and Kashmir in the UN General Assembly, with New Delhi asserting that such remarks will neither validate the country's claim nor justify its practice of cross-border terrorism. "As is their habit, the former foreign secretary of Pakistan today has made an unjustified reference to the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir," India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador P Harish, said in remarks on Friday in the General Assembly at the informal meeting of the plenary to commemorate the International Day to combat Islamophobia. Harish said frequent references by Pakistan will "neither validate their claim nor justify their practice of cross-border terrorism". "The fanatical mindset of this nation is well known, as also its record of bigotry. Such efforts will not change the reality that Jammu and Kashmir was, is and will always be an integral part of India," he said. Harish's strong retort came after ..

'Focus inward, not blame': India rejects Pak claim on Jaffar Express attack

Rejecting Pakistan's allegations, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the world knows where the epicentre of terrorism lies, and Pakistan must stop shifting blame and take responsibility

PIL in HC challenges MEA, Indian embassy in Oman for consular services

The petition argues that the RFP mandates service providers to charge a single contract price for application filing and support services, irrespective of whether applicants utilize services

No boundaries for India-Mauritius ties, will work for our people: PM Modi

Expressing gratitude to the Mauritius government for the grand welcome, PM Modi said it's not just a political visit but an opportunity to meet one's family

Mauritius PM hosts state dinner for PM Modi, says honoured by his visit

Mauritius PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam welcomed Prime Minister Modi to the country's National Day celebrations, expressing his pride and gratitude for Modi's presence

Monitoring Afghanistan situation, held talks with Taliban: India to UNSC

India told the UN Security Council that it has discussed with the Taliban regime various issues pertaining to bilateral relations and the "special" people-to-people ties has been the "foundation" of Delhi's present day engagement with the country. India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, said Monday at the UN Security meeting on the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) that in the beginning of this year, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai. The two sides discussed various issues pertaining to bilateral relations as well as regional developments. The Afghan side appreciated and thanked Indian leadership for continuing to engage and support the people of Afghanistan. It was decided that India would consider engaging in development projects in the near future in addition to the ongoing humanitarian assistance programs, Harish said in the Council. The January .

PM Modi arrives in Mauritius, to inaugurate over 20 India-funded projects

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate over 20 India-funded projects, ranging from capacity building to community-linked infrastructure, during his two-day state visit to Mauritius, beginning Tuesday, officials said. The prime minister will also announce new major infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening democracy in the Southeast African island nation. Prime Minister Modi, along with his Mauritian counterpart Navin Ramgoolam, will jointly inaugurate the Civil Services College building. The construction of the building was completed at an approximate cost of USD 4.75 million. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the project was signed in 2017. Modi will also e-inaugurate the Area Health Centre and 20 community projects, which have been constructed at a cost of around INR 7 crores. These community projects also include sports-related infrastructure. "We have something called community development projects, and these are small projects at the grassroots level, which ar

India secures repatriation of 283 nationals from Myanmar lured by fake jobs

These nationals were made to indulge in cybercrime and engage in other fraudulent activities in scam centres operating in regions along the Myanmar-Thailand border

New Zealand PM Luxon to make an official visit to India from March 16-20

Luxon is scheduled to join the inaugural session of the 10th Raisina Dialogue 2025 on March 17, deliver the keynote address, and interact with Indian business leaders during his visit

Indian High Commissioner to Mauritius expects key maritime security deals

Indian High Commissioner noted that digital and financial connectivity plays a crucial role in the economic relationship and people-to-people ties between India and Mauritius