Global leaders, Foreign Ministers debate Gulf situation, differ on 'Indo Pacific'
New Delhi, Jan 15 Global leaders including incumbent foreign ministers and former heads of nations and governments discussed at length various aspects of geo-strategic situation here during last two days on the backdrop of escalated tension in the Gulf.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi here and 'briefed' him on Russia’s position on key international and regional issues.
But at the Raisina Dialogue, the Russian Minister spoke against 'Indo Pacific' as a definition and maintained the idea seems only to exclude China and that - “Our Indians friends are smart enough to understand that".
Participating at the flagship global conference the Raisina Dialogue, a brainchild of the Prime Minister, several leaders called for bigger role by New Delhi while Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said India can play a significant role in de-escalating the situation.
In his meeting with Iranian Minister Zarif, the Prime Minister said that India has "strong interest" in peace, security and stability in the Gulf region.
"India being an important player, can play a key role in de-escalating tensions," Mr Zarif said.
The Iranian Minister blamed 'arrogance and ignorance' of the US for 'mayhem' and 'disaster' in the Gulf region.
New Delhi has been pushing up the cause of 'restraint' between the US and Iran and always maintained that it would like the situation to de-escalate.
Mr Zarif also went onto claim that in as many as 430 Indian cities and towns, there were protest and meetings to condemn killing of Iranian commander Qaseem Soleimani.
"You have seen the reaction (to Soleimani's killing), not just in Iran. I was surprised to hear that in 430 Indian cities, spontaneous demonstrations and meetings were held to commemorate General Soleimani. Now, the US talks about proxies, do we have proxies in India," he said at the Dialogue.
As expected - some differences among key players also surfaced as Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said - “Why do you need to call Asian Pacific as Indo-Pacific? The answer is evident… to exclude China.......We should be careful of terminology which looks very benign. It is an attempt to reconfigure existing structures".
In sharp contrast, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who could not attend the Raisina Dialogue due to bushfires, in a video message said: “The term Indo-Pacific reflects the recognition that India’s power and purpose will be vitally important to the region.....India has taken on an increasingly active role in the Indian Ocean".
Several global leaders and former heads of nation exuded confidence that India under the stewardship of PM Narendra Modi will be able to play much important role globally.
In his address to the Raisina Dialogue, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said - "advancing our interests in a multi polar world and contributing to global good is what foreign policy is all about".
In his interaction on Wednesday, Dr Jaishankar took an assertive line vis-a-vis government's fresh policy on matters related to migration or Kashmir issues.
"Partly the world has common challenges, terrorism is a common challenge, separatism is a common challenge. Migration is a common challenge. So do not think these are problems which are unique to India," he said adding, "...the large part of the world saw when 9/11 happened. How did they all respond to this. So when you look at a country like India which is dealing with these common challenges, it is important in a sense to reflect on your whole way of handling it".
Former Danish PM and ex-NATO Secretary General Anders Rasmussen said - "India can play an important role in this... I am an admirer of Prime Minister Narendra Modi".
Among others Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Hamid Karzai, former President of Afghanistan, Stephen Harper, former Prime Minister of Canada, Tshering Tobgay, former Prime Minister of Bhutan and former South Korean PM Han Seung-soo attended the inaugural session on Tuesday.
"It (India) is very much a country that is self defined and aspires to be a cooperative global partner....but India is not going to be a reflection of western liberalism," Mr Harper has said.
New Delhi, Jan 15 Iran Foreign Minister Javad Zarif on Wednesday slammed the US for its policy towards Iran and called them violation of international norms and genocide and went onto claim that in as many as 430 Indian cities and towns there were protest and meetings to condemn killing of Iranian commander Qaseem Soleimani.
"Iran is interested in diplomacy, but not interested in negotiations with the United States," the visiting Minister said here at the global leadership conference Raisina Dialogue.
He said the US did not adhere to its own commitment made during the negotiations with Iran.
Mr Zarif also said there was worldwide protest against killing of Maj Gen Qaseem Soleimani not only in Iran, but also across India.
"You have seen the reaction (to Soleimani's killing), not just in Iran. I was surprised to hear that in 430 Indian cities there was spontaneous demonstrations and meetings to commemorate General Soleimani. Now, the US talks about proxies, do we have proxies in India," he said.
He also said Iranians “were lied to” for days following the accidental shooting down of the Ukrainian jetliner, killing 176 people.The mishap had triggered angry protests in Iran. “In the last few nights, we have had people in the streets of Tehran demonstrating against the fact that they were lied to for a couple of days,”Iranian Minister said the US looks at everything from 'their own perspective' and must rethink their policy.
"We need to create hope in this region...," he remarked.
Mr Zarif said, "When the US assassinated General Soleimani in Iraq, violating Iraqi sovereignty, they thought and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted that people will be dancing in the streets of Tehran and Baghdad".
There was combination of 'arrogance and ignorance' in US policy and mindset and this is a dangerous phenomenon, he remarked.
"When you become ignorant and arrogant, it becomes a disaster, particularly, if you have lot of power" the Iranian Minister said adding this brought 'mayhem' in the region.
Kashmir a terror issue:
World must assess how did they respond to challenges of terror : Jaishankar
New Delhi, Jan 15 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday said the problems faced by India in Jammu and Kashmir relates to terrorism and the international community should assess how did they respond to these challenges.
"Partly the world has common challenges, terrorism is a common challenge, separatism is a common challenge. Migration is a common challenge. So do not think these are problems which are unique to India," Dr Jaishankar said at the Raisina Dialogue here.
"This is a national variant of our challenges in various parts of the world, and I think when people look at it, assess it and analyse it, they should in fairness ask themselves how did they respond to it. They also have been in stressed situation," he said answering questions on how does he 'respond' overseas on Modi government's stand on abrogation of Article 370 and other aspects of Kashmir policy.
Some of the major countries saw "disturbances in the neighbourhood" like Europe saw it in North Africa, he said, adding, "...the large part of the world saw when 9/11 happened. How did they all respond to this. So when you look at a country like India which is dealing with these common challenges, it is important in a sense to reflect on your whole way of handling it".
Even on issues like 'naturalisation', Dr Jaishankar said the international community would do well to assess and reflect on "your own way of handling it".
"On naturalisation, what is the path that other nations have taken...It is worthwhile looking at it. What are the global norms on all these?," he said adding it is also imperative to understand that people should not get 'fixated' on dots and 'forget the line'.
"At the end of the day, (dealing with these issues) also reflect the mindset towards governance. A lot of what has happened in last six months are in the political sphere, but the same mindset was also evident when it came to socio-economic issues, when it came to issues like gender gap, sanitation, urbanisation...etc," he said adding "so the bottom line is are we going to just inherit problems, multiply them and pass them on or are we going to deal with at least some of the inherited problems".
Dr Jaishankar said it is true when he is overseas, these questions are asked to him and added, "as no country is an island, I do not have any problem with that".
"People are entitled to have opinion, but people are also entitled to have opinion on other people's opinion...So I think life should be a two way street," he maintained underlining that there ought to be two sides on how things could be handled.
On this backdrop, he underlined it is important for India to ask, "are we going to define ourselves; or are we going to give other people define us".
Thus, he said, his firm conviction is with the 'first theme'.
"Certainly that's my political outlook, political outlook of the government and of my party," Dr Jaishankar said.
New Delhi, Jan 15 (UNI) India's way of looking at things globally would now be more as a 'decider and shaper' and not as an 'abstainer', External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said here on Wednesday and he also made it clear that India has 'not closed' its door on trade pacts like RCEP.
"....I would pick issues like climate change and connectivity and these are the issues, India has made differences in last few years," Dr Jaishankar said at the Raisina Dialogue interactive session here.
"India owes it to itself and to the world to be a just power, a fair power and a standard bearer," he said.
India has also become a "prisoner of its past image", he maintained and went onto say- "We have to get over it".
"There was a time when we spoke more than what we did. It is changing now," the minister emphasised adding in Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, India has delivered in terms of railway and infrastructure projects.
With regard the RCEP, he said - "it has to be evaluated on its merits and gains. The bottom line at Bangkok was the offers on the table did not match up to what we thought were our bottom line requirements. We have not closed the doors on it. The fact was there was a gap".
"The ball is thus in the court of the countries concerned....," he remarked.Answering a question, Dr Jaishankar also said - "...the image of being reluctant and shying away holds true any more".
"I think, one particular domain is illustrative of this....Look at Indian Ocean Region, today India has 16 agreements and it has given naval equipment and ships to eight Indian Ocean neighbours....It has extended defence line of credit close to 2 Billion dollars to 11 countries," he pointed out adding India also has military training teams in 11 countries.
'America is great, but cannot force your line always', says former Afghan Prez Karzai
New Delhi, Jan 14 (UNI) Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday said while it is a fact that the United States is a 'great' country, it cannot force a country like Iran to follow its line always.
"America is a great country, but America must recognize that you cannot force a country to follow your line al the time," Mr Karzai said at the inaugural session of the Raisina Dialogue here.
He said during his recent visit to Tehran and after interaction with Iranian leaders, he could find that
"there is anger surely (in Iran)....but I have noticed lot of inclination in Iran for improved relationship with the west".
He, however, said he could notice that the Americans were not as 'strong and rhetoric' as they were before.
"That's a good sign.... and I hope both will find common ground in promoting peace," he said also reminding the American leadership and also the rest of the world that Iran is a "great historic entity a great cultural entity".
Peace, security, stability in Gulf vital for India, Modi tells Iranian Minister
New Delhi, Jan 15 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that India has "strong interest" in peace, security and stability in the Gulf region.
The Prime Minister reiterated India's continued commitment to developing strong and friendly relations with Iran.
Mr Modi made these remarks when Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who is here to attend the high profile geo-strategic global conference Raisina Dialogue, called on him.
"The Foreign Minister (Zarif) shared his perspectives on the recent developments in the region. The Prime Minister mentioned India's strong interest in peace, security and stability in the region," a statement from the Prime Minister's Office said later.
Earlier in the day, Mr Zarif also met NSA Ajit Doval and also said that India can play a key role in de-escalating the situation in the Gulf.
The meeting between Mr Modi and the Iranian Minister has its significance as it comes days after the killing of top Iranian commander Maj General Qasseem Soleimani in a US strike.
The Prime Minister thanked Iranian leadership for the progress in Chabahar project, including designating it as Special Economic Zone.
Mr Modi also recalled his warm and cordial discussions with President Hassan Rouhani in September 2019 on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly in New York.
New Delhi has been pushing up the cause of 'restraint' and always maintained that it would like the situation to de-escalate.
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has been in touch with his counterparts from Iran (Mr Zarif), US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other counterparts from United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar underlining the need to de-escalate the situation and defuse the crisis.
Mr Zarif told the global leadership conference Raisina Dialogue here on Wednesday in as many as 430 Indian cities and towns, there were protest and meetings to condemn killing of Iranian commander Qasseem Soleimani.
"You have seen the reaction (to Soleimani's killing), not just in Iran. I was surprised to hear that in 430 Indian cities, spontaneous demonstrations and meetings were held to commemorate General Soleimani. Now, the US talks about proxies, do we have proxies in India," he said.
'If China is ranked No. 2, India can be placed fifth or sixth', says Dr Jaishankar
New Delhi, Jan 15 (UNI) External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Wednesday said there is a "powerful logic" for India and China to find greater "understanding" on key issues.
"Probably within a quarter of a century what our numbers are going to be? If you are going to be No. 2 and No. 3 and you are going to be neighbours and dynamic forces of the world; clearly the logic of reaching an understanding will be a very powerful logic," the Minister said at the Raisina Dialogue.
He said, "....If I do an economic ranking, China would be number Two and India would be number Five or Six in the world. Probably within the space of the decade we will be No. 2 and No. 3".
"For me, it is absolutely necessary that the two countries find an equilibrium and find accommodation and understanding on key issues which affect each other. For me it is a must," he said.
The India-China relationship has 'unique characteristic', he said adding the need to work together for two countries is a work 'in progress'.
"......and it will be continue to be a work in progress," he remarked.
India-China relation has been brought into normal course after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held an informal summit in Wuhan in China in April 2018 with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The second informal summit was held in Mammallapuram in Tamil Nadu in October, 2019.
The boundary issue talks are also on between NSA Ajit Doval and the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
A meeting between Mr Doval and the Chinese leader Wang Yi in December decided to intensify the dialogues.
India is a 'decider' now globally, has not shut the door on RCEP: Jaishankar
New Delhi, Jan 15 India's way of looking at things globally would now be more as a 'decider and shaper' and not as an 'abstainer', External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said here on Wednesday and he also made it clear that India has 'not closed' its door on trade pacts like RCEP.
"....I would pick issues like climate change and connectivity and these are the issues, India has made differences in last few years," Dr Jaishankar said at the Raisina Dialogue interactive session here.
"India owes it to itself and to the world to be a just power, a fair power and a standard bearer," he said.
India has also become a "prisoner of its past image", he maintained and went onto say- "We have to get over it".
"There was a time when we spoke more than what we did. It is changing now," the minister emphasised adding in Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, India has delivered in terms of railway and infrastructure projects.
With regard the RCEP, he said - "it has to be evaluated on its merits and gains. The bottom line at Bangkok was the offers on the table did not match up to what we thought were our bottom line requirements. We have not closed the doors on it. The fact was there was a gap".
"The ball is thus in the court of the countries concerned....," he remarked.
Answering a question, Dr Jaishankar also said - "...the image of being reluctant and shying away holds true any more".
"I think, one particular domain is illustrative of this....Look at Indian Ocean Region, today India has 16 agreements and it has given naval equipment and ships to eight Indian Ocean neighbours....It has extended defence line of credit close to 2 Billion dollars to 11 countries," he pointed out adding India also has military training teams in 11 countries.
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