S.Jaishankar News

Maharashtra assembly polls, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday said the state needs a government which is on the same page as the Centre. Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Jaishankar also said India is a leader in fighting terrorism and has zero tolerance for it. «Maharashtra is a leading state in industry technology and infrastructure. Viksit Maharashtra is important for achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat,» the BJP MP said. «Maharashtra needs a government which is on the same page as the Centre,» he said.

Indian embassy is in touch with German officials regarding the Ariha Shah case and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also raised the issue with his German counterpart, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Friday. He further said that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he is «closely following» the issue. «The case of Ariha Shah who is in Germany under foster has been followed very closely by us at various levels. Our Embassy in Berlin has taken it up with the German side. When EAM was in Germany he raised it strongly with his counterpart. I can confirm it was raised during the meeting as well today,» Misri said addressing a press briefing on Friday.

BRICS summit, the Modi government has said that India and China have reached an agreement to resume patrolling in eastern Ladakh. The development has brightened chances of a meeting between PM Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan on the sidelines of the summit. «Over the last several weeks, Indian and Chinese diplomatic and military negotiators have been in close contact with each other in a variety of forums. As a result of the discussions that have taken place over the last several weeks, an agreement has been arrived at on patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China border area and this is leading to disengagement and eventually a resolution of the issues that had arisen in these areas in 2020,» foreign secretary Vikram Misri said at a media briefing. Indian and Chinese soldiers will be able to resume patrolling in the way they had been doing before the border face-off in May 2020, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said at a media event. He said LAC breakthrough is a good development that happened due to «patient and persevering diplomacy».

Dr. S. Jaishankar addressed the evolving dynamics of global relations, particularly focusing on India’s complex relationship with Canada, at an event in New Delhi. While speaking at NDTV World Summit 2024, the minister remarked on the shifting priorities in diplomatic discussions, noting a noticeable change in focus from the U.S. to Canada. Addressing specific concerns regarding Canada, Jaishankar pointed out issues related to diplomatic conduct. He noted that Canada had requested an inquiry into India's High Commissioner, prompting India to withdraw its diplomats. He contrasted this with the actions of Canadian diplomats in India, who he claimed freely gather information about India’s military and police, while imposing restrictions on Indian efforts to ensure the welfare and security of its diplomats in Canada.

Russia has never done anything to impact India's interests negatively, said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday at the NDTV World Summit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the BRICS summit in Russia from October 22-23 at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. In July this year, PM Modi visited Russia, his first since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine, a war that has complicated the relationship between the longtime allies and pushed Russia closer to India's rival China.

biodiversity talks in Cali, Colombia next week, India showcased the way its development story intertwines with ecological conservation, including the role that tribal communities play in conservation efforts. This, according to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, is clearly demonstrated in the “shinning success” of Project Tiger. India is home to 70 per cent of world’s wild tiger population. Speaking at the inauguration of the art exhibition ‘Silent Conversation’, organised by the National Tiger Conservation Authority and Sankala Foundation, a Delhi-based organisation focused on sustainability, Jaishankar focused on the contribution of tribal and other local communities.

terrorism and extremism are unlikely to encourage trade, energy flows, and connectivity, said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, while speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, on Wednesday. Speaking against the backdrop of heightened tensions and global challenges, Jaishankar pointed out that terrorism and extremism, particularly along the India-Pakistan borders, continue to hinder progress in trade, energy exchanges, and regional connectivity. «Cooperation must be based on mutual respect, sovereign equality, and it should recognise territorial integrity and sovereignty,» he stated. He also noted the ongoing global conflicts, saying, «We meet at a difficult time in world affairs; two major conflicts underway, each with global repercussions.»

Sri Lanka has assured that it will not allow its territory to be used in a manner inimical to India's security interest, even as India said that it will be a steady partner in the economic recovery and development of the island nation. In the first visit by a foreign dignitary after the National People's Power, led by Anura Kumara Dissanayake, came to power, external affairs minister S Jaishankar met the top Sri Lankan leadership and invited the President on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit India. An official statement after the visit stated that the meetings highlighted that the interests of India and Sri Lanka were closely intertwined and collaboration was in mutual interest and contributed to the stability and security of the region. «The importance of a continuous dialogue that would promote trust, transparency and mutual sensitivity was recognised. The President reiterated that Sri Lankan territory would never be allowed to be used in a manner inimical to India's security interests,» it read.

Sheikh Hasina government, external affairs minister S Jaishankar met Bangladesh's foreign affairs adviser Touhid Hossain and discussed bilateral ties between the two countries. The meeting between Jaishankar and his Bangladeshi counterpart of the interim government on Monday evening came on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly. This was the Indian external affairs minister's first meeting with his Bangladeshi counterpart after an interim government led by Muhammad Yunus Khan took charge following the ouster of Hasina on August 5. Yunus, 84, took oath as the head of the interim government on August 8.

Bangladesh's Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain on Saturday said that Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus will not be meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, according to media reports. Hossain, former foreign secretary of Bangladesh, said he would hold a bilateral meeting with India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to advance the relationship between the two neighbours, The Daily Star newspaper reported. At a press briefing at the foreign ministry in the afternoon, Hossain said, «Sorting out all issues, we want to further advance our relationship based on mutual respect and fairness.»

Chandra Arya on Tuesday raised the issue of violence against minorities in Bangladesh in Canadian Parliament in what was the first such statement in a Parliament in the West since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in early August. “I am deeply concerned by violence targeting religious minorities, including Hindus, Buddhists and Christians in Bangladesh. Every time there is instability in Bangladesh, religious minorities, particularly Hindus, face the brunt. The share of religious minorities in the population of Bangladesh has significantly decreased since it achieved its independence in 1971,” Arya pointed out in his statement. “From 23.1%, including about 20% Hindus, it has now come down to just about 9.6%, including about 8.5% Hindus. Canadian Hindus who have families in Bangladesh are concerned about the security and safety of their families, their temples and properties,” Arya claimed, adding, “They will be holding a rally on Parliament Hill next Monday, September 23, to highlight the current situation there. They will be joined by Canadian Buddhists and Christians who have families in Bangladesh.”

border talks with China, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that 75 per cent of disengagement problems with Beijing are sorted out; however, the two nations «still have some things to do.» Jaishankar also underlined how India and China never had an easy relationship in the past. «We did not have an easy relationship in the past. What happened in 2020 was in violation of multiple agreements, the Chinese moved a large number of troops to the Line of Actual Control. We, in response, moved our troops up… Some progress on border talks with China. 75 per cent of disengagement problems are sorted out. We still have some things to do,» Jaishankar said during his conversation with Ambassador Jean-David Levitte at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy on Thursday.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday dismissed the argument that there was no need for «another club» called the BRICS, and said he was struck by the «insecurity» in the developed world over the grouping. During a conversation with Ambassador Jean-David Levitte at Global Centre for Security Policy, a think tank, here, Jaishankar said if the G7 can exist when there is the G20, there is no reason why BRICS cannot. Accounting for 27 per cent of global GDP, BRICS was founded by Brazil, Russia, India and China; later South Africa joined it, and in January 2024, five new countries — Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE and Ethiopia --joined the bloc. «Why the club? Because there was another club! It was called the G7 and you will not let anybody else into that club. So, we go and form our own club,» Jaishankar told to a loud cheer from the audience.

Ukraine conflict cannot be resolved on the battlefield, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday that Russia and Ukraine have to negotiate, and if they want advice, India is always willing to give. Jaishankar made the comments while responding to questions at the Annual Ambassadors' Conference of the German Foreign Office in Berlin, a day after he held a «useful conversation» with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on the margins of the India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) foreign ministers' meeting in the Saudi capital. «We don't think this conflict is going to be resolved on the battlefield. At some stage, there's going to be some negotiation. When there is a negotiation, the main parties — Russia and Ukraine — have to be at that negotiation,» he said. Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visits to Russia and Ukraine, he said that the Indian leader has said in Moscow and Kyiv that this is not an era of war.

India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Monday, at their first-ever Foreign Ministers meeting in Riyadh, adopted a Joint Action Plan 2024-2028 for undertaking various joint activities in diverse areas, including health, trade, security, agriculture and food security, transportation, energy, culture, among others.

India's new Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish assured the country's commitment to reformed "multilateralism" and «revitalisation» of the UN as he presented his credentials to UN chief Antonio Guterres.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday highlighted India's readiness to collaborate with like-minded partners on focused agendas, citing the Quad as a prime example. Jaishankar made these remarks as he addressed the FPCI Global Town Hall 2024. Jaishankar also shared a post on X and wrote, «Addressing the @fpcindo Global Townhall 2024 session on 'Anticipating Greater Geopolitical Turbulence Ahead, and Finding Ways to Calm the Storm.'

Narendra Modi will not address the annual debate at the United Nations General Assembly session here later this month, according to a revised provisional list of speakers issued by the UN. PM Modi is scheduled to travel to New York later this month and address a mega community event on September 22 at the 16,000-seater Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island. He will also address the UN's landmark 'Summit of the Future' that is being convened at the world body's headquarters on September 22 and 23. A provisional list of speakers for the General Debate of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) issued by the UN in July had said that PM Modi would address the high-level debate on September 26. However, according to a revised provisional list of speakers issued by the UN on Friday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is now expected to address the General Debate on September 28.

India isn’t against investments from China or doing business with companies from there, but it’s common sense to have the investments scrutinised because there is a “general China problem”, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday. “It has never been the government’s position… But on the investment issue, it is common sense that investments from China would be scrutinised. I think the border and the state of relations between India and China call for it,” Jaishankar said at a session on ‘New India's Risks, Reforms, and Responsibilities’ at The Economic Times World Leaders Forum. China in many ways is a unique problem because of its distinct political and economic systems, and it’s not just a problem for India, he said. “We are not the only country that is having a debate about China. Go to Europe, and ask them what is today among your major economic or national security debates? It’s about China. Look at the US. It's obsessed with China, and rightly so in many ways. So, the fact is, let's not make out as though it's only India which has a China problem,” the minister said.

Dr S Jaishankar said at the ET World Leaders Forum referring to the challenges that the world faces in today's time. Jaishankar explained that there are different forms of risks that pose a threat to the globe, including pandemics and climate change. In a conversation with ET's Pranab Dhal Samanta, Jaishankar said that risks are coming out of changes happening in the world. With respect to the emerging risks, the EAM said that every government today is constantly and cautiously assessing risks. These risks also expand to the global supply chain, he added.

OVL, BPRL and OIL hold 16%, 10% and 4% stake respectively in the project, operated by France's TotalEnergies with a 26.5% stake. The other partners are Japan’s Mitsui & Co. (20%), Mozambique’ state-run Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos or ENH (15%) and Thailand’s PTT Exploration and Production Plc.