External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar today termed China’s claim on Arunachal Pradesh as ludicrous. He asserted that Arunachal Pradesh is part of India and not because some other country says it is part of India. Speaking at an event in Institute of South Asian Studies in Singapore, Dr Jaishankar said India has been clear and consistent on the matter. He said this is not a new issue and China has laid claims earlier also and has expanded its claims.

On the rise of India and China, the External Affairs Minister said the challenge is to find a sustainable equilibrium between two rising powers who also happen to be neighbours and who have a history and population which sets them apart from rest of the world.

On Pakistan, Dr Jaishankar emphasised that India’s mood right now is not to overlook terrorism. The External Affairs Minister said every country wants a stable neighbourhood and India has been unfortunate in this regard. He said it is a challenge to deal with a neighbour who does not hide the fact that they use terrorism as an instrument of statecraft.  

Dr Jaishankar is on a three-day visit to Singapore. He also interacted with leading Singaporean Corporate figures this afternoon. In a social media post, the Minister appreciated their positive feedback on the India growth story, based on investment experiences. He expressed confidence that their commitment to doing more business in India will further increase.