Page 49 - Ministry Of External Affairs

EAM Jaishankar meets Nepal's foreign secretary for bilateral cooperation

Nepalese Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday and apprised him of his talks with his Indian counterpart, Vinay Kwatra. "Pleased to receive Nepal's Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal. Glad to learn from him that his discussions in India have been productive," Jaishankar said in a tweet. Kwatra and Paudyal took stock of the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation on Tuesday, including in the areas of trade, connectivity, culture and people-to-people relations. Paudyal was on a visit to India from September 13 to September 14.

Foreign secretaries of India, Nepal hold talks on bilateral cooperation

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra on Tuesday held talks with his visiting Nepalese counterpart Bharat Raj Paudyal and took stock of the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation, also covering trade, connectivity, culture and people-to-people relations. Paudyal is on two-day visit to India from September 13. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the two foreign secretaries noted with appreciation the progress on many projects. Kwatra and Paudyal also reviewed the implementation of initiatives announced during Nepalese Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's visit to India in April and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi's trip to Lumbini in May. "The foreign secretaries reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation between India and Nepal, including economic and commercial cooperation, enhancing connectivity, development cooperation, trade, culture and people-people relations," it said in a statement. The MEA said the recent progress in bilateral cooperation in power sector

India has a powerful case to be permanent member of UNSC: EAM Jaishankar

India has a powerful case to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council and the principal UN organ must adapt to the evolving global conditions, not only to fulfill its objectives of maintaining international security but also to remain relevant, said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is in Saudi Arabia on his first visit to the Gulf Kingdom. India has been at the forefront of the years-long efforts to reform the Security Council saying it rightly deserves a place as a permanent member of the Council, which in its current form does not represent the geo-political realities of the 21st Century. Jaishankar said there is a broad global consensus over the need to reform the Council, particularly as it does not reflect the realities of the world, asserting that an expanded Council is not only in India's favour, but also in favour of other unrepresented areas. India as the largest democracy, fifth largest economy, nuclear power, technological hub, and tradition of global .

Top Headlines: Gyanvapi verdict today, Russia's discounted oil, and more

In a bid to counter the growing clamour among the G7 nations to enforce a price cap on Russian oil, Moscow told New Delhi it is willing to provide petroleum at even lower rates than before to India

Rajnath Singh, S Jaishankar to visit Japan for 2+2 bilateral dialogue: MEA

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will travel to Japan this week to attend the next edition of '2+2' dialogue with their Japanese counterparts, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Tuesday. It said the two sides will further explore new initiatives to strengthen the bilateral partnership. "Defence Minister Rajnath Singh an External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will pay an official visit to Japan for the second India-Japan 2+2 Ministerial Meeting from September 7-10," the MEA said in a statement. "During the visit, the ministers will also hold the Defence Ministerial Meeting and Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue with their counterparts, Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada and Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi respectively," it said. The MEA said India-Japan special strategic and global partnership is based on shared values of democracy, freedom and respect for rule of law. Singh began a visit to Mongolia on Monday and he wi

Jaishankar congratulates Truss, expresses hope for stronger India-UK ties

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday congratulated Liz Truss on being chosen to be the next prime minister of the UK and said he is confident that the India-UK relationship will grow further under her leadership. Truss, who beat former chancellor Rishi Sunak to succeed Boris Johnson, is set to take charge as Britain's new prime minister. Congratulating Truss on being elected as the leader of the UK Conservative Party, Jaishankar tweeted, "Your commitment to raising India-UK cooperation to a higher level is well known. Confident that our relationship will grow further under your leadership." Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also congratulated Truss on Monday night after she was chosen to be the next prime minister of the UK and had expressed confidence that under her leadership, the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will be further strengthened.

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.

India delivers fresh batch of medical supplies to Afghanistan as aid: MEA

India on Saturday supplied a fresh batch of medical supplies to Afghanistan as part of its humanitarian assistance. The consignments of medical aid were handed over to the Indira Gandhi hospital in Kabul. "Today, India supplied the 10th batch of medical assistance as part of India's ongoing humanitarian assistance," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. In view of the urgent appeals made by the United Nations to assist the Afghan people, India has, so far, supplied 32 tons of medical assistance in 10 batches. The supplies included essential life-saving medicines, anti-TB medicines, 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines etc. "These medical consignments have been handed over to the World Health Organization (WHO) and Indira Gandhi Children Hospital, Kabul," the MEA said. India has been pitching for providing unimpeded humanitarian aid to Afghanistan to address the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the country. India has been in touch with several leading powers on the situation

India gifts Dornier aircraft to strengthen maritime security of Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe was present at the impressive handover ceremony which took place on a day when India celebrated its 76th Independence Day

'Will safeguard interests': MEA on Chinese vessel's planned visit to Lanka

In the backdrop of reports of a proposed visit by a Chinese vessel to Sri Lanka's Hambanthota port next month, India on Thursday said it monitors any development having a bearing on its security

India will help direct G20 through next decade: President Droupadi Murmu

In her maiden speech, Indian President Murmu said,"I am sure that the conclusions and policies that will emerge from this brainstorming in India will determine the direction of the coming decades."

Will seek clearance from MEA for Kejriwal's Singapore visit: Sisodia

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday said his government will now directly approach the Ministry of External Affairs to seek political clearance for Arvind Kejriwal's Singapore visit

Need to 'scrupulously' follow existing agreements: India on Ladakh row

India on Thursday once again pressed China for "scrupulously" following the existing agreements on the management of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), 3 days ahead of the 16th round of military talks

Latest news LIVE: Palaniswami elected as AIADMK's interim General Secretary

Latest Live news updates: Covid cases in India, Sri Lankan crisis, Gujarat rains, Russia-Ukraine war, and more

Companies operating in India need to follow law of land: MEA on Vivo

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said the companies that operate in India need to follow the law of the land

Indian security agencies seize thousands of illicit firearms annually: MEA

India said its security agencies annually seize thousands of illicit firearms, attributable to illegal trafficking from across our borders, despite a strong law-based framework in the country for controlling small arms and light weapons. The continuing prevalence of illicit small arms and light weapons and their availability to terrorists, armed groups and other unauthorised recipients is a clear indicator that the implementation of the UN Programme of Action (UNPOA) requires further and more effective efforts, Sandeep Arya, Additional Secretary, Disarmament & International Security Affairs division (D&ISA), Ministry of External Affairs said. Speaking Monday at the Eighth Biennial Meeting of States on Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons, he said India views full and effective implementation of the UN Programme of Action as the cornerstone of multilateral efforts to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons. We particularly .

India stands in solidarity with Afghan people: MEA after devastating quake

A day after sending relief material to earthquake-hit Afghanistan, India said it stands in solidarity with the Afghan people and remains firmly committed to providing them with required relief

India's e-passport rollout to start by end of year: All you need to know

TCS is working on a passport project with the government; earlier this year, the MEA renewed its 10-year Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) deal worth more than Rs 6,000 crore with the firm

PM Modi to visit Germany, UAE from June 26-28 to attend G7 Summit: MEA

"PM Narendra Modi will be visiting Schloss Elmau, Germany at the invitation of Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, for the G7 Summit under the German Presidency on June 26 and 27," the MEA said

Live: Shiv Sena must walk out of 'unnatural alliance', says rebel Shinde

From Maharashtra political crisis to coronavirus cases in India and more, catch all the latest developments from across the globe here