Page 41 - Ministry Of External Affairs

EAM Jaishankar meets Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel in Kathmandu

Upon arrival, Jaishankar met Nepal's Foreign Minister NP Saud and the two leaders engaged in conversation as they proceeded towards their car

EAM Jaishankar arrives in Nepal on two-day visit; to meet top leadership

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived here on Thursday on a two-day visit to co-chair with his Nepalese counterpart the seventh Nepal-India Joint Commission meeting here on Thursday and Friday during which they will review the overall state of bilateral ties. It is Jaishankar's first foreign trip in 2024. Jaishankar will co-chair a meeting of the India-Nepal Joint Commission along with his Nepalese counterpart N P Saud. The India-Nepal Joint Commission was established in 1987 and provides a platform for both sides to review all aspects of the bilateral partnership. "Nepal is a priority partner of India under its 'Neighbourhood First' Policy. The visit is in keeping with the tradition of high-level exchanges between two close and friendly neighbours," the Ministry of External Affairs said in New Delhi. During the Joint Commission meeting, the entire gamut of Nepal-India relations will be reviewed, according to Nepal's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Amrit Bahadur Rai. "The

India well positioned politically to navigate challenges in 2024: EAM

The year 2024 will continue to be turbulent or the world but India is well-positioned politically and economically to navigate the challenges, maintain its rising global role and its path of development, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday. The union minister was speaking at the launch of his new book 'Why Bharat Matters' in which he examines the geopolitics and various aspects of India's foreign policy since Independence using the epic Ramayana as the overarching perspective. "I do think that 2024 will continue to be turbulent, (and) that many of the same factors which drove 2023 would remain very much in play," he said addressing a group of foreign diplomats, strategic affairs experts, academicians and intellectuals. The external affairs minister said India is well-placed to look at 2024 with a fair deal of confidence. "Today where we are positioned, where we are positioned politically, where we are positioned economically, when you look at a lot of these ...

Randhir Jaiswal takes over as Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson

Jaiswal assumes the role as Arindam Bagchi, former spokesperson, begins assignment as India's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva

India pushed for dialogue, diplomacy as conflicts raged around world in '23

As wars and conflicts raged around the world this year, India pressed for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve them and gave a consistent clarion call for reformed multilateralism amid failures by a polarised UN Security Council to maintain international peace. India, which became the world's most populous country in 2023, emerged as the voice of the Global South as it presided over the G20, the grouping of the world's largest economies, throughout the year. At a time when the world, as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar pointed out, was witnessing sharp East-West polarisation and deep North-South divides, India brought its G20 thematic message of One Earth, One family, One Future' to the global stage, including at the United Nations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leading an unprecedented Yoga Day celebration at the UN headquarters on June 21, urged the international community to use the power of Yoga to build bridges of friendship, a peaceful world, and a cleaner, greener and ...

India asks Pakistan to extradite 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed, confirms MEA

India has asked Pakistan to extradite Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed, who is wanted in the country for various terror attacks, including the 2008 Mumbai terror strikes. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the request along with certain documents seeking the terrorist's extradition was sent to Islamabad recently. A request for extradition was sent recently, Bagchi said at his weekly media briefing while replying to a question. Saeed is a terrorist proscribed by the United Nations.

Carefully evaluating all aspects of unfolding situation in Red Sea: MEA

India values the free movement of commercial shipping and is closely evaluating all aspects of the unfolding situation in the Red Sea, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday.MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, however, also added that New Delhi is not part of any multilateral initiative or operation in or around the Red Sea.Notably, tensions have brewed in the Red Sea after Houthi rebels stepped up attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea as a mark of 'protest' against Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip.Addressing the weekly briefing, Bagchi said, "As we said earlier, we value the free movement of commercial shipping, which is one of the fundamental principles underpinning global commerce. We are carefully evaluating all aspects of the unfolding situation in that region. Our defence forces are taking necessary measures in this regard"."But I'm not aware that India is part of any multilateral initiative or operation presently in or around the Red Sea," he ...

Most passengers back, consular help will be given to those in France: MEA

Bagchi noted that the chartered flight was heading from UAE to Nicaragua. He said that the cases are being dealt with by French authorities as per their local laws

Next steps after examining ruling: MEA on Navy veterans row in Qatar

India on Friday said its next steps in the case relating to eight former Indian Navy personnel will be decided after examining the ruling of a Qatari court and discussions with the legal team handling the matter. Qatar's Court of Appeals has commuted the death sentences handed out to the Navy veterans by another court earlier. "The interests of Indians and their family members is our foremost concern," Ministry External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing. "We will be discussing the next possible steps with the legal team and the family members," he added. Bagchi said he would not like to say anything more as the matter is sensitive. The Indian nationals, who were working with Doha-based Al Dahra Global Technologies, were taken into custody in August 2022 in a case of alleged espionage. While the charges against them were not made public by Qatari authorities, they were sentenced to death by the Gulf country's Court of First Instance in October this

Qatar court reduces punishment for 8 ex-Indian Navy veterans on death row

Relief for families as Qatar's Court of Appeal revises punishments for eight former Indian Navy seals in espionage case; detailed judgment awaited

Russia-India ties going strong despite turbulences: Putin to Jaishankar

Russia's relations with India and its people are making "steady headway" despite the "current turbulences" in the world, President Vladimir Putin has said and expressed confidence that the two countries will maintain their traditionally friendly ties in "any alignment of political forces" after elections in India. Putin's remarks came on Wednesday when visiting External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on him at the Kremlin. "We are very pleased to note that despite the current turbulences in the world, relations with our traditional friends in Asia, with India and the Indian people are making steady headway," Putin said. The ties between India and Russia remained strong notwithstanding Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. India has not yet condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and it has been maintaining that the crisis must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue. "We know Prime Minister Modi's position and we have repeatedly spoken about this the position concerning his ...

Cabinet agreement may grant 12-month residency to Indian students in Italy

The Union Cabinet granted approval for an agreement between India and Italy to promote mobility students, skilled workers, business professionals, and young talent

EAM Jaishankar expresses grief over 14 deaths in Prague University shooting

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed deep sorrow following the tragic shooting incident at Prague's Charles University.In a heartfelt post on X, he extended his deepest condolences to the families of the victims."Saddened by the news of the shooting incident at Prague's Charles University. Deepest condolences to the families of the victims," posted EAM Jaishankar.As many as 14 people were killed and 25 wounded in a shooting at a university in Prague on Thursday, CNN reported.In a press conference on Thursday, Czech Police Chief Martin Vondrasek said the information he had received so far indicated the shooter took his own life, but added it was not yet confirmed. He also said the suspect had not been formally identified because of the severity of his injuries.In a later news conference on Thursday night, Vondrasek revised the number of people killed to 14, after previously saying 15 people had died. Of the 25 people injured, ten were in serious condition, the police chief .

No discussion with Israel on Indian workers replacing Palestinian labourers

India on Thursday said it has not held any discussion with Israel on the possibility of Indian workers replacing Palestinian labourers in that country. Following a phone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, an Israeli readout said the two leaders discussed "advancing the arrival of foreign workers from India to the State of Israel". "Let me clarify what we said in Parliament and what we said in Parliament stands," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at his weekly media briefing when asked about the issue. Bagchi also referred to a reply to a question on the matter from Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan in Parliament on December 14. "The government has not made any discussion with Israel regarding possible replacement of Palestinian labourers with Indian workers," Muraleedharan said in the Rajya Sabha. Bagchi said the minister's reply had clearly stated that "there have

EAM Jaishankar visits Kuwaiti mission, condoles demise of Emir Nawaf

India will always remember the contributions of Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in strengthening India-Kuwait ties, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Monday on the demise of the Kuwaiti ruler. Jaishankar visited the Kuwaiti embassy in Delhi this morning and paid his respects to the departed leader. "Visited the Embassy of Kuwait in Delhi today morning to express condolences and pay my respects on the passing away of His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of the State of Kuwait," he said on X. "The Government and people of India will always remember his notable contributions to the strengthening of our ties," he said. Emir Jaber Al-Sabah, who played a key role in boosting India-Kuwait relations, died at the age of 86 on Saturday. India observed a "state mourning" on Sunday as a mark of respect for the departed leader. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Sunday travelled to Kuwait as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's special envoy

Govt spent Rs 416 cr out of Rs 990 cr allocated for G20 summit: MEA

As MoS Muraleedharan shared details of the expenses, he dismissed the claims made by Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut who had said that govt spent more than Rs 4,000 crore on the summit

'Rejected allegations of India's involvement in act of violence in Canada'

In calling for India's cooperation into its allegations of a potential Indian link to the killing of a Khalistani leader on its soil, Canada has not provided any "specific and relevant information" to New Delhi for it to act upon, the government informed Parliament on Friday. Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said in Lok Sabha that the government has conveyed to Canada its "concerns" over activities of anti-India elements in that country and requested Ottawa to take action against such elements besides denying space to them. The government has rejected the allegations of its involvement in "any act of violence" in Canada, he said replying to a question. In September, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made an explosive allegation of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil on June 18. India has strongly rejected the charges. "The government has rejected the allegations of the ...

Have rescued 1309 Indians from Israel since start of Gaza war: Jaishankar

Gaza war: The UN Security Council will vote on Friday to urge an immediate ceasefire in Gaza

Indictment of Indian in US for plot to kill a 'matter of concern': MEA

Nikhil Gupta, 52, has been charged with murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison in the US for plotting the assassination of a separatist

World much more than Europe: Lavrov echoes Jaishankar on global order

He quoted Jaishankar's remarks that the "world is much more than Europe" and the "world is much more than the West"