EAM S Jaishankar met Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan.
India, China Jointly Acknowledge: LAC Disputes Harmful
EAM S Jaishankar met Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan. The meeting focused on resolving remaining border issues promptly as both the leaders agreed to intensify diplomatic and military efforts toward this goal. “Respecting the LAC and ensuring peace and tranquility in the border areas is essential. The three mutuals – mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest – will guide our bilateral ties,” the EAM added.
The meeting between the two leaders holds significance in light of a four-year-long frozen relations between the two countries over the standoff in Eastern Ladakh. “The two Ministers agreed that the prolongation of the current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either side. EAM highlighted the need to redouble efforts to achieve complete disengagement from the remaining areas in Eastern Ladakh and restore border peace and tranquillity in order to remove obstacles towards return of normalcy in bilateral relations,” it said.
“Priority must naturally be given to combating terrorism, one of the original goals of the SCO. Many of us have had our experiences, often originating beyond our borders. Let us be clear that if left unchecked, it can become a major threat to regional and global peace,” the message read.
‘SECURE’ SCO
India’s priorities in SCO are shaped by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a ‘SECURE’ SCO. SECURE stands for Security, Economic cooperation, Connectivity, Unity, Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and Environmental protection, the MEA said in a statement.
Indians have been pressed into service with the Russian Army: Jaishankar
Jaishankar stated, “Several Indians have been pressed into service with the Russian Army. Only when they come back will we know the full circumstances. But whatever the circumstances are, to us it is unacceptable that Indian citizens find themselves in the army of another country in a warzone.” Lavrov assured Jaishankar of his cooperation, confirming that the MEA has communicated with the Russian Defence Ministry on this matter. Jaishankar expressed his commitment to ensuring the safe return of all stranded Indians and urged a stronger follow-up to address the issue effectively.
Moreover, earlier this year, the CBI uncovered a human trafficking network that deceived Indian nationals with promises of lucrative job opportunities abroad but instead sent them to conflict zones like the Russia-Ukraine border.
‘Isolate And Expose Countries That Harbour Terrorists’: Jaishankar
India asked the international community to “isolate and expose” those countries that harbour terrorists, provide safe havens and condone terrorism, underlining that if left unchecked, terrorism can become a major threat to regional and global peace, in a veiled jibe at China and its all-weather ally, Pakistan.
