Page 13 - Ministry Of External Affairs

EAM Jaishankar holds bilateral talks with Bhutan, Bangladesh counterparts

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday held separate meetings with his counterparts from Bangladesh and Bhutan, focusing on ways to boost bilateral ties in diverse areas. The meetings took place in Delhi on the sidelines of a retreat session of the foreign ministers of member nations of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation). "Good to meet Bangladesh FM @DrHasanMahmud62 this evening in New Delhi. The frequent high level exchanges reflects the strength of India-Bangladesh Maitri. Discussed ways of advancing it further," Jaishankar said on 'X' following his talks with Bangladesh counterpart Hasan Mahmud. On his talks with Bhutanese Foreign Minister DN Dhungyel, Jaishankar said views were exchanged on taking forward the unique ties of friendship and goodwill between India and Bhutan. "Pleased to meet @FMBhutan DN Dhungyel on the sidelines of BIMSTEC Retreat. Exchanged views on taking forward our unique ties of friendship an

India supports return of democracy in Myanmar: EAM to Myanmarese minister

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday told his Myanmarese counterpart U Than Shwe that India supports the return of democracy in Myanmar even as he strongly pressed for the early return of Indians "unlawfully" detained by gangs involved in cyber scams in Myawaddy town. At a meeting with U Than Shwe, Jaishankar also raised the issue of flow of illegal narcotics, arms trade and activities of insurgent groups along the Indo-Myanmar border. The talks took place on the sidelines of a retreat session of the foreign ministers of member nations of BIMSTEC grouping in Delhi. "Met with DPM and FM U Than Swe of Myanmar on the sidelines of BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' Retreat. Shared our concerns regarding border stability and flow of displaced persons," Jaishankar said on 'X'. "Also spoke about issues of illegal narcotics and arms trade and activities of insurgent groups. Pressed strongly for the early return of Indians unlawfully detained by cyber scam gangs," he said. "India ...

India has given 'Buddha' to the world, not 'Yuddha': PM Modi in Austria

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said India has given 'Buddha' to the world, not 'Yuddha' (war) which means it has always given peace and prosperity, and therefore the country is going to strengthen its role in the 21st century. Addressing the Indian diaspora in Vienna, Modi also said that India is working towards being the best, the brightest, achieving the biggest and reaching the highest milestones. "For thousands of years, we have been sharing our knowledge and expertise. We didn't give 'Yuddha' (war), we gave the world 'Buddha'. India always gave peace and prosperity, and therefore India is going to strengthen its role in the 21st century," Modi said in Austria, a day after he arrived here from Moscow where he highlighted the importance of finding a peaceful solution to the Ukraine conflict during his talks with President Vladimir Putin. Describing his first visit to Austria as "meaningful", Modi said that after 41 years, an Indian Prime Minister has visited the ...

PM Modi receives ceremonial Guard of Honour in Vienna, signs guestbook

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that it was the first bilateral visit of Prime Minister Modi to Austria

PM Modi in Moscow, Prez Putin hosts him for private dinner ahead of talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday night hosted a private dinner for Prime Minister Narendra Modi hours after he arrived in Moscow on a two-day high-profile visit in his first trip to Russia since its invasion of Ukraine over two years back. The focus of the prime minister's visit is on an economic agenda including cooperation in areas of energy, trade, manufacturing, fertilisers, and that a 'solution cannot be found on the battlefield', top sources said, indicating that Ukraine conflict will figure prominently in Modi-Putin talks. The two leaders will hold wide-ranging talks at the 22nd India-Russia annual summit on Tuesday that is largely being seen in the context of wider geopolitical turmoil arising out of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Shortly after landing in Moscow, Modi said he is looking forward to deepening bilateral partnership in futuristic areas and that stronger ties between India and Russia will "greatly benefit our people". India seeks to play a "supportiv

Russia bombards Ukraine: Dozens killed, Kyiv children's hospital hit

Russian missiles killed at least seven people and struck a children's hospital in the Ukarinian capital, Kyiv, Monday, while another attack in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih killed at least 10. The Russian barrage targeted five Ukrainian cities with more than 40 missiles of different types, hitting apartment buildings and public infrastructure, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a social media post. At least 20 people were killed and around 50 people were injured across the country in the Monday morning onslaught, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said. In Kryvyi Rih, 31 people were injured in addition to the 10 deaths in what the head of city administration, Oleksandr Vilkul, said was a massive missile attack. Explosions were also reported by local officials in Ukraine's central Dnipropetrovsk region. At the Okhmatdyt children's hospital in Kyiv, rescuers were searching for people under the rubble of a partially collapsed wing of the facility, Zelenskyy said, .

Why Pakistan has suspended the passports of 2,000 beggars for 7 years

The Pakistan govt said that begging abroad not only damages Pakistan's reputation but also diminishes the honour of its citizens

Climate change India's prominent concern, says Jaishanakr at SCO summit

Climate change is a prominent concern before the world today and India is working towards achieving committed reduction in emissions and building climate-resilient infrastructure, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday. Jaishankar was delivering Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit here in the Kazakh capital. Delivered India's statement at the Summit of SCO Council of Heads of States on behalf of PM Shri @narendramodi ji. Thank the leaders present for conveying their best wishes to Prime Minister @narendramodi on his re-election for a third successive term, Jaishankar posted on X along with photos. We are working towards achieving a committed reduction in emissions, including transition to alternate fuels, adoption of electric vehicles, and building climate-resilient infrastructure, he said. In this context, during India's SCO presidency, a Joint Statement on emerging fuels, and a Concept Paper on ...

'Respecting LAC essential': EAM Jaishankar after talks with China's Wang Yi

EAM S Jaishankar stated that India and China agreed to intensify efforts via diplomatic and military channels to address border issues

India, Pakistan exchange lists of civilian prisoners, fishermen: MEA

India and Pakistan on Monday exchanged the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in each other's custody, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said and added that 2,639 Indian fishermen and 71 civilian prisoners have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2014 as a result of New Delhi's sustained efforts. Under the provisions of the bilateral Agreement on Consular Access 2008, such lists are exchanged every year on January 1 and July 1, the MEA said in a statement. "India and Pakistan today exchanged, through diplomatic channels simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad, the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in each other's custody," it said. India has shared the names of 366 civilian prisoners and 86 fishermen in its custody who are Pakistani or are believed-to-be-Pakistani. Similarly, Pakistan has shared the names of 43 civilian prisoners and 211 fishermen in its custody who are Indian or are believed-to-be-Indian, the MEA added. The government of India has called fo

EAM Jaishankar to visit Qatar on Jun 30, review aspects of bilateral ties

During the visit, S Jaishankar will meet the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani

India presents action plan for regional cooperation under Colombo Process

India has presented an action plan focusing on several of its priority areas for regional cooperation under the Colombo Process, a regional consultative forum comprising 12 Asian nations. India rolled out the plan while chairing a meeting of the grouping in Geneva on Friday. In the meeting, India listed a range of its priorities that included reviewing the financial sustainability of the Colombo Process and broadening the grouping's membership by including new nations as members and observers. Muktesh Pardeshi, Secretary (consular-passport-visa division) in the Ministry of External Affairs, delivered the special address at the meeting. "He emphasised India's commitment to advancing the objectives of the Colombo Process and enhancing collaboration among member states," the ministry said. "India presented an outline of an action plan for the next two years, focusing on key priorities and initiatives to further strengthen the Colombo Process," it said. In May, India assumed the cha

Deeply Biased, driven by votebank: India on US' religious freedom report

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the report selectively picked incidents to advance a preconceived narrative against India

Jaishankar meets envoys of Kuwait, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand in Delhi

Kuwaiti Ambassador Meshal Mustafa Jasim Alshemali called on Jaishankar and discussed bilateral relations

India key ally of US to ward off 'China threat', says Congressman Meeks

India is a key ally of the United States, an influential American lawmaker who recently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, adding that it is a "key country" to ward off the threats of China. These remarks were made by Gregory Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and senior member of the House Financial Services Committee. It's tremendously important, and the reason you're talking about 1.3 billion people. But the ally that India is for the United States is important, Meeks told CNN in an interview on Sunday. When you look at what Joe Biden has done pulling people, pulling countries together, for example, India is an integral part of the Quad, our relationship with India, as well as South Korea and Japan, United States, and Australia, he said. Meeks was part of a high-powered delegation that recently travelled to India and met Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi. Then you... about India also part of the trilateral agreement that's moving forward. You kn

MEA rendered 16.5 mn passport related services in 2023: S Jaishankar

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) rendered 1.65 crore passport-related services to citizens in 2023, registering an annual growth of nearly 15 per cent. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said this while commending the personnel for efficient passport-related service delivery. The MEA commemorated the 12th Passport Seva Divas on Monday to mark the enactment of the Passports Act on June 24, 1967. Coinciding with this, a three-day Regional Passport Officers (RPO) conference was organised in Delhi. "I am happy to note that in 2023, the ministry rendered 1.65 crore passport-related services to our citizens," Jaishankar said in a message to the conference. "The year 2023 noticed a commendable annual growth of nearly 15 per cent in passport and other related services," the minister said. The monthly submission of applications crossed the 14 lakh mark in 2023, he said. The external affairs minister also underlined the need for leveraging the power of the latest technologies to

EAM Jaishankar reviews 'multi-faceted' strategic ties with UAE counterpart

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has reviewed with his United Arab Emirates counterpart Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan the multi-faceted India-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership and discussed new areas with "untapped potential" to enhance collaboration, an official statement said on Monday. Jaishankar, who was in the UAE on Sunday, also exchanged views with Al Nahyan on regional and global issues. He visited the iconic BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi and participated in the 10th International Yoga Day celebrations before meeting Al Nahyan. The two foreign ministers "reviewed the multi-faceted India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi said on Monday. They expressed "happiness at the substantive progress in diverse areas of bilateral cooperation, including commercial and economic collaboration, fintech, education, culture, and people-to-people connect," it said in a statement. The ministry said the two ministers ...

17 injured in hospital, in touch with kin, authorities: MEA on Kuwait fire

Over a week after a devastating fire in Kuwait killed 50 people, the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said 17 injured Indians are still admitted in hospitals there and all are stable. The Indian embassy is in touch with the local authorities, the patients and their kin to ensure their well-being, it said. The massive fire had occurred at a seven-storey building in Kuwait's Mangaf city in the southern Ahmadi Governorate on June 12 and at least 45 Indians died in the tragedy. The building was home to 196 migrant workers, mostly Indians. The NBTC Group, where the victims of the fire tragedy were employed, recently issued a statement, extending its deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims and injured. In response to a query at a weekly media briefing here, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that on the part of the Kuwaiti government, the Emir has announced USD 15,000 as compensation for the families of the people who have died in the fire incident. The

Jaishankar, Sri Lanka Prez commission Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday jointly commissioned the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre built with a USD 6 million grant from India, as New Delhi stepped up bilateral cooperation with its key neighbour. The minister also called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and reiterated India's strong support through development and connectivity initiatives. Jaishankar, who met President Wickremesinghe here, said that he conveyed the warm greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed the way forward for the bilateral cooperation, especially in power, energy, connectivity, port infrastructure, aviation, digital, health, food security, education and tourism sectors. "Honoured to call on Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Conveyed the warm greetings of PM @narendramodi. Appreciated the progress made on various bilateral projects and initiatives," Jaishankar said in a post on X. "Under President @RW_UNP's ..

Jaishankar meets with members of visiting US Congressional delegation

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said Wednesday he met with members of a visiting bipartisan US Congressional delegation and appreciated their "strong and continued support" to the India-US strategic partnership. He also shared a photograph with the delegation in a post on 'X'. "Pleasure to meet with the bipartisan US Congressional delegation led by @RepMcCaul. Thank @SpeakerPelosi, @RepGregoryMeeks, @RepMMM, @NMalliotakis, @RepBera and @RepMcGovern for joining. Appreciate their strong and continued support for the India-US strategic partnership," Jaishankar wrote. The US Congressional delegation led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul arrived in Himachal Pradesh's Dharamsala on Tuesday. It also met with Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Wednesday. Apart from McCaul, the delegation consists of six prominent US Congressional members -- former US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Mariannette Miller, Gregory Meeks, Nicole Malliotakis,