Page 14 - External Affairs Ministry

Budget 2024: External affairs ministry gets allocation of Rs 22,154 crore

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) was on Thursday allocated a total of Rs 22,154 crore for the fiscal 2024-25 in the Union Budget as against last year's outlay of Rs 18,050 crore. In line with India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy, the largest share of aid portfolio has been granted to Bhutan with an allocation of Rs 2,068 crore. The development outlay for the Himalayan nation in 2023-24 was Rs 2,400 crore. The allocation for Chabahar Port has also been maintained at Rs 100 crore, underlining India's focus on connectivity projects with Iran. The development assistance to the Maldives has been kept at Rs 600 crore as against last year's Rs 770 crore, according to budget papers. In continuation with India's special relationship with the people of Afghanistan, a budgetary aid of Rs 200 crore has been set aside for that country. An amount of Rs 120 crore will be provided to Bangladesh under development aid while Nepal would be provided Rs 700 crore. According to the budget docum

India backs two-state solution to resolve Israel-Palestine conflict: EAM

India favours a two-state solution to end the decades-long Israel-Palestine conflict, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday as the latest war in the Gaza Strip, ignited by the Hamas' brutal attacks inside the Jewish state in early October, shows no sign of coming to an end. He said the conflict in West Asia must be viewed in totality and termed the Hamas' deadly incursions inside Israel nearly four months ago as a terrorist attack. Replying to a question at an interaction with students of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Mumbai, Jaishankar, "It is certainly the view of India, and a very large number of countries that (the problem can be) only be done (resolved) through a two-state solution that there has to be a Palestinian state side-by-side with the state of Israel." "So for us today, there are all the aspects. We cannot take one aspect and say that's the only aspect because if you see the debate in the world in a way that is what people are doing," he ..

India's greater capability, reputation warrant help in tough times: EAM

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said India's greater capability, its own interest and reputation today warrant that it actually help in difficult situations, in reference to the Indian Navy's deployment of warships in the Red Sea region to deal with attacks on merchant navy vessels. The Indian Navy has deployed 10 of its ships in the region, Jaishankar said responding to a question during an interaction with students at the Indian Institute of Management Mumbai. "India's greater capability, our own interest and our reputation today warrant that we actually help out in difficult situations," he said. Jaishankar said there is a problem of piracy as well as drone attacks on merchant navy ships in the Red Sea region. "We will not be considered a responsible country if bad things are happening around our neighbourhood and we say I have got nothing to do with this. When you are in trouble, the neighbourhood will say the same," he said. Jaishankar said that in the last

Indian envoy congratulates Tshering Tobgay for assuming charge as Bhutan PM

This was Bhutan's fourth general election since transitioning from a traditional monarchy to a parliamentary form of government 15 years back

MEA's R-Day tableau showcases India's G20 presidency achievements

The successful hosting of the G20 Summit and India's achievements during its presidency of the powerful grouping were showcased in the Ministry of External Affairs tableau which rolled down the Kartavya Path as part of the 75th Republic Day parade on Friday. The MEA's tableau reflected India's leadership of addressing global issues in an ambitious, decisive, inclusive and action-oriented manner. It also depicted the successful completion of India's G20 presidency last year and its achievements. The front part of the float featured the Nalanda Maha Vihara, surmounted by the G20 Logo. The trailer also showcased the major achievements based on presidency priorities. The Indian presidency's decision to make the African Union a full member was shown by joining of hands in the "Namaste mudra". One hand depicted the Indian flag and the other that of the African Union. The tableau also depicted women-led development in the world. The sides of the tableau reflected India's success in digi

India-US relation deepened, matured, expanded in scope: Ambassador Sandhu

The relationship between the world's two largest democracies has deepened in intensity, matured in character and expanded in scope, India's outgoing ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu has said. Sandu, 61, who retires later this month from the foreign service after more than 35 years. on Wednesday made these remarks at a farewell ceremony held in his honour with the community leaders at the India House here. India, United States relationship has deepened in intensity, matured in character, and expanded in scope, as I say so many times that it touches almost all spheres of human activity: tech, trade, defence, space, healthcare, education, skilling, people to people, space ties, Sandhu said in his address on Wednesday at a farewell ceremony held in his honour with the community leaders at the India House here. During his service, Sandhu has served in the US three times, the last being India's Ambassador to the US for four years. So much is happening in these areas. And this .

India betting on Africa's rise, seeks to take ties to higher level: EAM

As he sought to take India-Nigeria ties to a higher level, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said India is betting on Africa's rise and the rebalancing and the multi-polarity of the world will not be complete until the continent takes its due place. Addressing the Nigeria-India Business Council (NIBC) here, the minister said the rebalancing and reordering of a new global order will only happen when the core of it is economic ... which is the rise of Africa has to be the economic rise of Africa. The minister, who arrived in Nigeria on Sunday after attending the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Uganda, concluded his two-nation tour with an address to the NIBC. Now, that obviously presents choices, because it is very difficult to go up in the global order by being a market for others or just by being a provider of resources, he said. Africa, Jaishankar said, is rising, and India is betting on Africa's rise. India is betting on Africa's rise because, by any objecti

India-Nigeria joint commission meet: EAM Jaishankar stresses on cooperation

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday co-chaired the 6th Joint Commission Meeting between India and Nigeria and said that both the sides have agreed to strengthen efforts in a slew of sectors, including people-to-people exchange, energy, mobility and consular cooperations. The Joint Commission meeting, which Jaishankar co-chaired along with his counterpart Yusuf Tuggar, also discussed opportunities in the sectors of energy, power, renewables, transport, healthcare, fintech, agriculture, and security between the two countries. Co-chaired the 6th Joint Commission Meeting along with FM @YusufTuggar. Noted the expansion of our economic cooperation, especially trade and investment. Discussed new opportunities in energy, power, renewables, transport, healthcare, fintech, agriculture and security," Jaishankar said in a post on X. Earlier, he arrived in the Nigerian capital Abuja from Lagos, which he reached on Sunday after attending the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in ...

UNGA President Dennis Francis arrives in New Delhi to advance India-UN ties

United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) President Dennis Francis on Monday arrived in New Delhi on a five-day visit to India to advance India-UN ties

EAM Jaishankar highlights global solidarity, cooperation at NAM summit

"I recognise Azerbaijan for leading NAM during a difficult period. I also welcome South Sudan as a new member," he said

Understand actions taken in self defence: MEA on Iran's missile strike

In a carefully crafted reaction on Iran's deadly missile strike targeting terror bases in Pakistan, India on Wednesday said it understands actions that countries take in their self defence. At the same time, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said it is a matter between Iran and Pakistan, and asserted that India has "an uncompromising" position of "zero tolerance" towards terrorism. "This is a matter between Iran and Pakistan," he said. The spokesperson was responding to media queries on the Iranian missile strike in Pakistan. "So far as India is concerned, we have an uncompromising position of zero tolerance towards terrorism. We understand actions that countries take in their self defence," Jaiswal said. Tehran launched an unprecedented missile and drone strikes on what it said were directed at the bases of a terrorist group in the restive Balochistan province. Two bases of the Sunni Baloch militant group 'Jaish al-Adl' in Pakistan's unruly Balochistan provi

EAM Jaishankar will embark on a two-day visit to Iran from Sunday

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will embark on a visit to Iran on January 14 as part of the ongoing high-level exchanges between the two sides.EAM Jaishankar will be on a two-day visit from January 14 to January 15."External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar will visit Iran on 14-15 January 2024 as part of the ongoing high-level exchanges between the two sides," the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.During his visit, he will meet his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and will discuss bilateral, regional and global issues."He will meet Foreign Minister of Iran, H.E. Dr. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and hold discussions on bilateral, regional and global issues," the statement added.Moreover, political cooperation, connectivity initiatives and strong people-to-people ties will constitute important aspects of the agenda.Recently, in November, the 18th India-Iran Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) were held in Tehran.The Indian side was led by Foreign Secretary .

Inter-ministerial meet next week over issues on trade from Red Sea crisis

The commerce ministry has called a high-level inter-ministerial meet next week to discuss ways to insulate India's trade from the ongoing problems in the Red Sea, a senior official said on Thursday. Senior officials from five ministries -- external affairs, defence, shipping and finance and commerce -- will participate in the deliberations. The commerce ministry has also set up an internal strategic group, comprising additional secretaries of the ministry, to discuss global issues impacting the country's trade on a daily basis and prepare a strategy to deal with them. "The idea of the inter-ministerial meeting is to see how we can strategise our trade so that it gets least affected in such a situation," the official said. The situation around the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial shipping route connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean, has escalated due to recent attacks by Yemen-based Houthi militants. Due to these attacks, the shippers are taking ...

PM Modi meets Timor-Leste Prez, discusses ways to further boost ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with President of Timor-Leste Jose Ramos-Horta here on Tuesday with the discussions covering cooperation in various fields including health, traditional medicine, energy, IT, fintech and capacity building, an MEA official said. PM Modi reached Ahmedabad on Monday night. On Tuesday morning, he reached the Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Centre in Gandhinagar to hold bilateral meetings with world leaders, a day before the inauguration of the 10th edition of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit. "Had an excellent meeting with President @JoseRamosHorta1 of Timor-Leste. The fact that our meeting is taking place in Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, makes this meeting even more special considering Gandhi Ji's influence on President Horta's life and work. We discussed ways to further bilateral and cultural ties between our nations," Modi said in a post on X after the meeting. "Furthering the Delhi-Dili connect! PM @narendramodi held a ...

LIVE: PM Modi lands in Ahmedabad to take part in Vibrant Gujarat Summit

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Russia suspects supply of India-made 115mm artillery shells to Ukraine

The Ministry of External Affairs has categorically denied these claims, stating that the Foreign Minister has only held discussions on bilateral cooperation with Ukraine

EAM Jaishankar offers prayers at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Jaishankar stated, "Blessed to visit the Pashupatinath Temple today morning. Prayed for the well-being of our two peoples and India-Nepal ties"

Israel embassy blast probe: Delhi Police seeks CCTV footage from JMI

Days after a blast near the Israeli embassy, the Delhi Police has written to the Jamia Millia Islamia to provide the CCTV footage from the cameras installed at the walls of the university, sources said on Thursday. Police suspect that one of the persons who visited the blast site at the Prithviraj Road two hours prior to the incident had come from Jamia Nagar in southeast Delhi. He had taken an auto-rickshaw nearby the Jamia Millia Islamia metro station. "The letter was written to the university as multiple CCTV cameras are installed at the walls of the university. These cameras are faced towards the Okhla Road from where one of the suspects in the blast took the auto-rickshaw," a police officer said. The accused, who is yet to be identified, is believed to be the prime suspect who planted the bomb near the Israeli embassy on December 26, the officer added. Police have already questioned the auto-rickshaw driver, sources said. Police have found with the help of the CCTV footage th

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

Discussed how MEA and state could collaborate closely: EAM meets Mizoram CM

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met the Chief Minister of Mizoram, Lalduhoma in New Delhi on Wednesday.