India has lost 22 nationals, including 14 seafarers, in the ongoing West Asia war over the past eight months. Briefing media in New Delhi this afternoon, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal expressed India’s deep concern about the ongoing conflict in the region. He said India remains in close touch with the community in the Gulf region for their safety and well-being. He said that three Indians have lost their lives in Saudi Arabia.
Regarding FATF meeting underway in Paris, the spokesperson said that India’s stand is amply clear as far as terror financing and cross border terrorism is concerned. He said terror financing and cross border terrorism need to be held accountable. He further stated that the world needs to do more so that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations can be fought harder and defeated by the global community.
The spokesperson further informed that External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will be attending the G 20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting to be held in Atlanta, US from 30th to 31st October. hat on the sidelines, Dr Jaishankar will also participate in a QUAD Foreign Ministers Meeting. He will also have several bilateral engagements with his counterparts. Mr Jaiswal informed that from Atlanta, the External Affairs Minister will travel to St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda to lead the Indian delegation for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to be held from 1st to 4th November. The theme of the forthcoming CHOGM is “Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth”.
On energy sourcing, the spokesperson said it is based on national interest. He pointed out that energy sourcing is done by the companies, which take into consideration commercial conditions that are available, market conditions at that point of time as also the global situation.
Replying to a query on SCO Civilisational Civilizational Dialogue Forum meeting, Mr Jaiswal said India has invited all SCO members as per established practice. He said India has also invited dialogue partners and one observer to the SCO. He added that they have been invited to the Civilizational Dialogue Forum meeting, which will be held in New Delhi from 20th to 22nd November.
Replying to a query on Northeast and Japan, Mr Jaiswal asserted that India has strong partnership with Japan. He further stated that several initiatives are underway involving Northeast and Japan. He said New Delhi would like to further these linkages. He said work is going on to further strengthen India Japan economic technology partnership, and in that larger rubric, Northeast is also getting attention.
