At a BRICS meeting convened to discuss the Israel-Hamas conflict, India on Tuesday said the immediate crisis was triggered by a terrorist attack and none should compromise where terrorism is concerned, even as it called for addressing concerns of Palestinians and stressed the two-state solution. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who addressed the virtual meeting on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also pointed out that in response to the crisis in Gaza, India has sent 70 tonnes of humanitarian assistance and will continue its relief assistance. "The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza is causing immense human suffering, including to civilians, elderly, women and children. We welcome all efforts of the international community towards de-escalation. Right now there is an urgent need to ensure that humanitarian aid and relief, effectively and safely reach the population of Gaza," Jaishankar said at the meeting hosted by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and attended
Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend the virtual G20 Leaders' Summit at India's invitation on Wednesday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced here on Tuesday. The G20 virtual summit will take forward key outcomes and action points firmed up at the annual conclave of the grouping in September under India's presidency, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi said in a statement. The summit will also delve into the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict. It is also expected to push for the effective implementation of various decisions taken at the bloc's annual summit in New Delhi over two months back, the statement said. Li will attend the meeting at the invitation of the Indian government, China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning told a media briefing, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Leaders of all G20 Members, including the Chair of the African Union, as well as nine Guest countries, and Heads of 11 International Organisations, hav
The two leaders will hold discussions on advancing the strategic partnership between the two countries
Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles has already arrived in India for the 2+2 dialogue
The External Affairs Minister noted that long-standing structural inequities have been seriously aggravated by the devastation caused by the Covid-19-19 pandemic
At an event in London, Jaishankar said that India's approach to oil purchases prevented a surge in global oil prices, preventing potential competition with Europe in the market
Secularism for India does not mean being non-religious but an equal respect to all faiths, but the appeasement government policies of the past made the biggest religion of the country feel like it had to be self-deprecatory in the name of equality, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said. During an interaction entitled How a Billion People See the World' at the Royal Over-Seas League in London on Wednesday evening, Jaishankar was asked if India had changed since the Nehruvian era to become less liberal and more Hindu majoritarian under the BJP-led government. While asserting that India had certainly changed, Jaishankar was categorical that the change did not mean India being less liberal but rather more authentic about expressing its beliefs. Has India changed from the Nehruvian era? Absolutely, because one of the assumptions of that era which very much guided the thinking of the polity and its projection abroad was the way we define secularism in India, said Jaishankar, in
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday presided over a repatriation ceremony in London for two 8th-century temple idols stolen from India and discovered in England recently. The Yogini Chamunda and Yogini Gomukhi idols, stolen from a temple in Lokhari in Uttar Pradesh between the late 1970s and the early 1980s, were recovered by the High Commission of India in London with support from India Pride Project, and Art Recovery International. Jaishankar unveiled the idols at India House on the final day of his five-day visit to the UK and said he looked forward to their return to their home country. It is important today, as we look to appreciate each other's culture, to ensure that cultural exchanges are legal, transparent and rules-based, said Jaishankar. Where there have been deviations, whenever these are corrected I think this is something of great importance, not just in this case, but as a message that this is a practice which is not acceptable in this day and age, he
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar concluded his five-day visit to the UK on Wednesday, which he described as timely after a series of cross-party engagements amid substantial progress on the ongoing free trade agreement negotiations. During a media interaction at the High Commission of India in London before leaving, the EAM shared some insights from his discussions with the UK Cabinet ministers and Opposition leaders which covered a whole spectrum of global and bilateral issues. India's concerns regarding pro-Khalistan extremism in relation to the safety of its diplomats in the country were among the topics that came up during his meetings with UK Home Secretary James Cleverly and National Security Adviser (NSA) Tim Barrow. We have long-standing concerns about extremist and sometimes even violent activities of various forces, including those who propagate Khalistan, said Jaishankar. We have been trying to get the government here to understand that while we as a fellow democra
During a conversation with journalist Lionel Barber on Wednesday, Jaishankar emphasised the importance of credible evidence
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday met British National Security Adviser Tim Barrow and held a "good discussion" with him on regional and global challenges. Jaishankar is on a five-day official visit to the UK with an aim to review various aspects of bilateral ties and give "new impetus to the friendly ties". "Glad to meet UK NSA Tim Barrow. A good discussion on pressing regional and global challenges, Jaishankar posted on X. Earlier this week, Jaishankar met British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, newly-appointed Foreign Secretary David Cameron, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and Home Secretary James Cleverly. At a special Diwali Reception organised by the High Commission of India at Westminster Central Hall near the Houses of Parliament here on Monday evening, Jaishankar said that the free trade agreement (FTA) is very much the focus of the India-UK relationship and India is hopeful of finding a "landing point" in the negotiations that works for both sides. The Indi
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The duo also discussed shared global challenges, including the situation in Israel and Gaza and the war between Russia and Ukraine
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday said that India and the UK are currently focusing on a free trade agreement and hoped that the two sides will find a "landing point" which will work for both of them. Jaishankar, who is here on a five-day official visit to the UK with an aim to review various aspects of bilateral ties and give "new impetus to the friendly ties", also said that the agenda 2030 put greater emphasis on connectivity on trade on working together when it comes to defence and security, on health and all climate change. "We are focusing on what is officially called an enhanced trade partnership. In common sense, it's called FTA (a free trade agreement) and that is today very much the focus of what the Indian and British systems are negotiating and where we hope that we will find a landing point which will work for both of us," Jaishankar said. The India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was launched in 2021 along with the India-UK Roadmap 2030 which seek
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met former British prime minister Tony Blair here and discussed bilateral ties, the West Asia situation and Africa. Jaishankar is on a five-day official visit to the UK with an aim to review various aspects of bilateral ties and give "new impetus to the friendly ties". "Nice to catch up with former UK PM Tony Blair this morning. Discussed our bilateral ties, the West Asia situation and Africa," Jaishankar said in a post on X. Blair served as British premier from 1997 to 2007 and as envoy for the Middle East Quartet comprising the UN, the US, the European Union, and Russia from 2007 to 2015. The Quartet, established to help mediate Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, has been largely inactive in recent years. According to Israeli media reports, Tel Aviv is seeking to appoint Blair as a humanitarian coordinator for the war-torn Gaza Strip. On Sunday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty hosted Jaishankar
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar, who is on a four-day official trip to the UK, celebrated Diwali by offering prayers at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Neasden Temple) in London
During his visit, Jaishankar will hold a meeting with his UK counterpart James Cleverly. He will also meet several other dignitaries
The EAM said that in the last decade, a bulk of Indian embassies have also opened in Africa
India and the US on Friday held wide-ranging talks to expand their global strategic partnership by shoring up engagement in areas of defence production, critical minerals and high-technology besides focusing on the situation arising out of the Israel-Hamas conflict and China's military muscle-flexing in the Indo-Pacific. The India-US '2+2' foreign and defence ministerial dialogue took place amid growing geopolitical turmoil, largely triggered by the Russia-Ukraine war, the escalating conflict between Hamas and Israel in West Asia. The American delegation at the '2+2' ministerial dialogue talks was led by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin while External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh headed the Indian side. At the end of the dialogue, Jaishankar described the talks as "substantive". "Our agenda covered advancing our strategic partnership, including elevating our defense ties, moving forward in space & tech, future
He said that a comprehensive overview of defence and security ties, technology, and people-to-people exchanges will be discussed