Page 36 - Ministry Of External Affairs

Concerned about IMEC delay amid West Asia situation, says Jaishankar

The delay in implementation of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) in view of the current situation in West Asia is a matter of "concern" and the expectation generated following firming up of the initiative in September last has to be "adjusted" a bit now, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said. In an exclusive interview to PTI, Jaishankar said all the stakeholders of the IMEC -- a ship-to-rail transit network -- are committed to it as they feel it is a "great" initiative. "It has definitely been a source of concern for us and the kind of expectation we had when the agreement was signed in September, we have had to adjust it a bit," he said when asked whether the ongoing crisis in West Asia would delay the project by at least a few years. "On the other hand, all the parties to the agreement have reconfirmed that 'we think it is a great idea' and all are committed to it," he said. Billed as a path-breaking initiative, the IMEC envisages a vast road, railro

Global order witnessed re-balancing in recent decades, says Jaishankar

In the last few decades, the global order has witnessed a "re-balancing" that is shaping its new directions, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday. Addressing a gathering here at the launch of the Arbitration Bar of India, Jaishankar also said the requirement to harmonise, mediate and settle differences and disputes will be even more "as we progress on that journey towards Viksit Bharat". This is a "very significant step" in the emergence of India as an arbitration venue, he said. "I know that all of you appreciate its significance more than I do. But let me, as a foreign minister, today really place it in a larger context and a context that I will borrow again from the AG's (attorney general's) reference to a triangle, a Greek triangle. The triangle I use here is really one of law, business and diplomacy," he added. In his address, Jaishankar said, "In the last few decades, the global order has witnessed a re-balancing that is shaping its new directions." "One f

G20 summit satisfying, forging friendships most significant: EAM Jaishankar

If closing out the G20 Summit was the most satisfying moment of his career, the most significant was being associated with "enormous changes in some crucial relationships" such as the US, Australia, UAE and Japan during the last five years, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar says. "These relationships have really changed tremendously in the last five years, last decade. And, the growth of the Quad, again that is something that we tried a decade and a half ago, not succeeded, did it a second time. This time it actually, really worked," Jaishankar told PTI in an exclusive interview at the news agency's headquarters. Jaishankar spoke on a range of issues in the nearly hour-long interview including his view of the world in 10 years from now, the challenges faced by India, and the rising profile of the country in the international arena under his watch. Hosting the G20 Summit last year "wasn't just the hard work", because in many ways the "prestige of the country" was riding on it, he said.

India needs to have stable leadership amidst global turbulence: Jaishankar

The world will witness a "very, very stormy" churn because of conflicts, power shifts and sharpening competition in this decade, which makes it all the more important for India to have a stable and mature leadership, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said. In an exclusive interview to PTI late Thursday, Jaishankar painted a picture of the world radically different from the one we are living in now by the end of 2020s when asked to draw on his nearly 50 years of experience in diplomacy and politics to give an assessment of the global power balance. "Multiple conflicts, tensions, divides! With all these variables that I am putting to you, I am painting to you, actually, a very, very stormy international scene for the balance of the decade," said Jaishankar, a former ambassador to China and the United States, who was tapped for the political role by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019. Jaishankar especially referred to the declining influence of the United States, the conflict in

Development of India-Maldives ties based on mutual interests: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday conveyed to his Maldivian counterpart Moosa Zameer that the development of India-Maldives ties is based on "mutual interests" and "reciprocal sensitivity". Jaishankar's remarks came amid a downturn in the bilateral ties between the two countries since pro-China president Mohamed Muizzu assumed office six months back. "As close and proximate neighbours, the development of our ties is obviously based on mutual interests and reciprocal sensitivity," the external affairs minister said in his opening remarks in his meeting with Zameer here. "As far as India is concerned, these are articulated in terms of our Neighbourhood First policy and SAGAR (Security and Growth for all in the Region) vision. I hope that our meeting today will enable us to strengthen the convergence of our perspectives in various domains," Jaishankar said. The relations between the two countries came under severe strain in view of Muizzu insisting on withdrawal of ..

Five Indian sailors on seized MSC Aries released, depart from Iran

The Indian Embassy, while sharing details of their release, thanked the Iranian authorities for their close coordination with the Embassy and Indian Consulate in Bandar Abbas

India supports a homeland for Palestinians eventually, says EAM Jaishankar

Jaishankar mentioned the continuous efforts to engage with the neighbouring countries to ensure the students' safe evacuation of the student while highlighting the Vishwa Bandhu foreign policy's role

Shaksgam valley standoff: India lodges complaint with China over construction activities

India said on May 2 that it had lodged a strong complaint with China over construction work in the Shaksgam valley. It described as an "illegal" effort to change the situation on the ground. Ministry

India not xenophobic: Jaishankar dismisses US President's comments

US President Joe Biden stated that India, Russia, and Japan's 'xenophobic' attitudes were the cause of the countries' economic troubles

India blasts USCIRF, describes it as 'biased' entity with political agenda

India on Thursday came down hard on the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and said it continues to publish its propaganda on the country "masquerading" as part of an annual report. In an unusually sharp reaction to the USCIRF's latest report that has criticised India for alleged violations of religious freedom, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the organisation is known to be a "biased" entity with a political agenda. "The US Commission on International Religious Freedom is known as a biased organisation with a political agenda. They continue to publish their propaganda on India masquerading as part of an annual report," Jaiswal said. "We really have no expectation that the USCIRF will even seek to understand India's diverse, pluralistic and democratic ethos," he added. "Their efforts to interfere in the largest electoral exercise of the world will never succeed," Jaiswal said at his weekly media briefing. In its latest annual .

Revanna went to Germany on diplomatic passport, didn't need visa: MEA

Ministry says Prajwal Revanna, MP accused of sexual harassment, didn't seek 'political clearance'

Reported Indian role in assassination plots 'serious matter': White House

India's foreign ministry said the Washington Post report made "unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations on a serious matter" while New Delhi is investigating the issue.

Unsubstantiated imputations: MEA responds to Post's report on Pannun case

A day after The Washington Post named an Indian official for allegedly plotting to eliminate Sikh extremist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, India on Tuesday said the report made "unwarranted and unsubstantiated" imputations on a serious matter. The newspaper, citing unnamed sources, named a RAW officer in connection with the alleged plot to assassinate Pannun. "The report in question makes unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations on a serious matter," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. "There is an ongoing investigation of the high level committee set up by the Government of India to look into the security concerns shared by the US government on networks of organised criminals, terrorists and others," he said. Jaiswal was responding to media queries on the report. "Speculative and irresponsible comments on it are not helpful," Jaiswal said. In November last year, US federal prosecutors charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta with working with an Indian governme

LS Polls 2024: Ex-Foreign Secy Harsh Vardhan Shringla votes in Darjeeling

Darjeeling has been a BJP bastion since 2009, with the Trinamool Congress never managing to wrest the seat from the principal opposition party in the state

Within 6 yrs, India achieved 80% financial inclusion: Ruchira Kamboj

'Within six years, India has achieved an 80% financial inclusion rate, a feat that would have taken decades without such digital infrastructure,' she said

Some technicalities involved in return of 16 Indians onboard MSC Aries: MEA

Nearly two weeks after an Israel-linked container vessel was seized by Iran's military, India on Thursday said there are certain "technicalities involved" in the return of the remaining 16 Indian crew members is concerned. Ann Tessa Joseph, the sole woman cadet among the 17 Indian crew members of the vessel "MSC Aries" that was seized on April 13, was released on April 18 following "concerted efforts" by the Indian mission in Tehran and the Iranian government. In response to a question during his weekly media briefing here, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the 16 Indians are in "good" health. The Indian mission was given consular access to the Indians by Iranian authorities. There are 16 Indians onboard MSC Aries now as one woman has come back, Jaiswal said. "These 16 people, we had asked consular access for, which we got. Our officers went there and met. They are in constant touch with their families. Their health is good. And they have no problems of any kind onboard the sh

10 Indians working as support staff with Russian Army return home: MEA

Ten Indian nationals working as support staff with the Russian military have been released and have returned to India, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi has been pressing Russia to ensure the return of all other citizens serving in similar positions in the Russian military. "Ten such individuals have come back to India and they have been released and they have returned home," Jaiswal said at his weekly media briefing. After two Indians, working as support staff with the Russian military lost their lives, India last month called on its nationals to not risk their lives by taking up such jobs. Jaiswal said the Indian side is very actively pursuing the case of all Indians serving with the Russian military at various levels, including with the foreign ministry, defence ministry and several other organisations in Russia. "We are committed to bring back all the people who so far have got in touch with us and want to

EAM Jaishankar slams Western media, says 'games being played with us'

"Now I read that article and I wanted to say listen, in that heat my lowest turnout is higher than your highest turnout in the best run," Jaishankar said

'Asean can play imp role in emerging regional architecture of Indo-Pacific'

India believes that a strong and unifiedEAN can play a constructive role in the emerging regional architecture of the Indo-Pacific, External Affair Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday while underlining that a "multipolar Asia" and a "multipolar world" are increasingly self-evident today. In his virtual address at the 1stEAN Future Forum, he also said "we believe that Quad compliments theEAN and theEAN-led mechanisms" in their effort to make the region prosperous through delivery of people-centric benefits. Jaishankar asserted thatEAN is "at the heart of our Act East Policy" and is a "crucial pillar in India's wider Indo-Pacific vision". "We supportEAN unity, centrality and theEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific," he said. Jaishankar said India andEAN are neighbours sharing "millennia-old cultural and civilisational linkages". TheEAN-India relationship which has entered its fourth decade and has matured into a "comprehensive strategic partnership" is based on shared values and common ...

MEA's revocation certificate for OCI card brings relief to Goans: CM Sawant

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said the Ministry of External Affairs circular on revocation certificate to be a valid document in lieu of surrender certificate for obtaining Overseas Citizen of India card would be a relief to thousands of Goans. This is a "great news" for the people of Goa, Sawant said in a post on X on Sunday. He posted the MEA memorandum issued on April 4, 2024, which said the "MHA has now decided to accept Revocation Certificate as an alternative documents in lie of surrender certificate in case of Indian nationals hailing from erstwhile Portuguese territories of India (Goa, Daman and Diu), who have acquired Portuguese nationality as per Portuguese Nationality Law, and who have been issued 'Revocation Order' by the RPOs (regional passport offices) instead of Surrender Certificate". Sawant said the MEA has issued clarification that revocation certificate will also be a valid document in lieu of surrender certificate for obtaining the OCI Card. "I thank the