New Delhi
United States President Joe Biden has said that Washington was in “consultations” with India on the issue of Ukraine but indicated that the differences have not been fully resolved between the two countries.
Responding to a question on whether India, a major US defence partner, was in sync with the US position on the issue, Biden told a press conference “We are in consultations with India today. We have not resolved that completely.”
Also asked if he was urging China to play a role in isolating Russia, Biden said he was not prepared to
comment on that for the moment.
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar received a call from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken
on Thursday evening.
"Appreciate the call from @SecBlinken. Discussed the ongoing developments in Ukraine and its
implications," Dr Jaishankar tweeted.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
"Mr Modi reiterated his long-standing conviction that the differences between Russia and the NATO group
can only be resolved through "honest and sincere dialogue", a PMO statement said.
The statement said, "President Putin briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the recent developments
regarding Ukraine".
Russia has welcomed the "independent position" India has taken in the UN Security Council
twice already on Ukraine and which was expressed openly by the Indian external affairs minister and other officials.
Russian Deputy Chief of Mission, Roman Babushkin, said earlier this week, India has been playing
a vital role as a responsible global power and it takes an “independent and balanced” approach to world affairs.
He also said the crisis would not impact India-Russia ties, including in areas of defence, and that there will
be a “huge” Russian participation in the DefExpo in Gujarat next month.
Biden has of course tried to frame the conflict as a battle between autocracy and democracy.
He slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to invade Ukraine and announced
“devastating” sanctions against Russia.
Other major western countries also announced sanctions against Russia.
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Snubbed during China trip, now Imran on visit to Russia
New Delhi
Imran Khan has become the first Pakistani prime minister to visit Russia in 23 years.
Imran Khan is that breed of politicians who seldom learn anything from past experiences and mistakes. There are fewer 'corrective steps' in their logic and actions and yet there will be some admirers always.
There are a few Indian versions of netas of that variety certainly.
Imran had rushed to China during Winter Olympics to establish and strengthen 'iron brother' friendship with Beijing.
Instead there was a sort of snub. Even Pakistani observers say there was a real "chilly reception"
accorded to onetime cricket hero in Beijing.
He was received by Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Wu Jianghao and this certainly
was "degrees below the protocol extended to his predecessors", says Pakistani author and expert
F.S. Aijazuddin.
Now, the Pak PM has decided to make a trip to Moscow.
Of course, the "timing of this visit is fraught with implications" and the Ukraine crisis is at its peak.
"....Russia has confronted the US and NATO over Ukraine. The PM, before leaving for Moscow, tried to
allay the suspicions of our ‘with us or against us?’ Western allies by insisting that we are not part of any bloc.
Seventy-five years of alignment belies this assertion. We do belong to a bloc — of debtor nations whose
economies are governed by US dictates," said Aijazuddin in a newspaper article.
This trip to Russia is as if on the "rebound" after China flip-flop.
This is the same Putin who 10 years ago "cancelled his own trip to Islamabad citing the insecurity" caused by
Imran's party PTI’s container dharnas.
In a rather sarcastic remark, the article says - Imran is like "like other leaders whenever wobbly at home
(eg Nixon/ de Gaulle/ Thatcher), believes that he has a higher role to play on the international stage".
Little does the Pakistan Prime Minister realise that in the comity of nations, his country's position has made
a nosedive and even US President Joe Biden is yet to speak to him over phone.
Meanwhile, experts caution that any 'escalation' in the Ukraine-Russia crisis can also impact
Pakistan’s food security.
Ukraine has emerged as a major market for wheat import for Pakistan.
In 2020-21, Pakistan imported nearly 1.2 million tonnes of wheat from Ukraine.
It is being argued in certain quarters that Imran, who has been itching for a long time to travel to
Russia to shore up Pakistan’s weakening geopolitical position in relation to India and refurbish
his domestic credentials as a global leader, is unlikely to complain about Russia’s new offensive against Ukraine.
That, too, is part of a shift in Islamabad's standpoint.
In recent years, there has been growing warmth between Pakistan and Ukraine, which Islamabad
has courted as a counterweight to New Delhi’s traditional ties with Moscow.
At the same time, Pakistan wants to develop a more productive engagement with Russia.
One reason is Russia with all its regional and global clout is a 'much bigger' strategic prize for Pakistan
than Ukraine.
But India-Russia bond has been reestablished in recent times in more ways than one.
ends
Indian foreign policy engine room swings into actions, Jaishankar talks to several FMs
New Delhi
Just as the crisis engulfed the world community after Russia's actions against Ukraine, the Indian foreign policy engine room swung into action and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar spoke to several of his counterparts.
Among others, Dr Jaishankar received a call from EU High Representative
Josep Borrell Fontelles.
.
They discussed the "grave situation in Ukraine and how India could contribute to de-escalation efforts".
The External Affairs Minister held telephonic discussions with UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.
He also spoke to foreign minister of Slovak Ivan Korkok.
"Discussed the situation in Ukraine. Appreciate his willingness to facilitate the evacuation of Indian
nationals through Slovakia," Dr Jaishankar tweeted.
The Minister also spoke to FM Péter Szijjártó of Hungary.
"He has promised full cooperation to facilitate evacuation from Debrecen. Thank him for his
understanding," Jaishankar wrote in the micro blogging site.
FM Bogdan Aurescu of Romania also assured help on evacuating Indian nationals from Ukraine.
The Ministry of External Affairs is working with Romanian authorities to ensure "border crossing expeditiously".
Importantly, he also received a call from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
"Appreciate the call from @SecBlinken. Discussed the ongoing developments in Ukraine and its
implications," he tweeted.
At the multiple levels, works and discussions are on to ensure safe evacuation of Indians from the war-hit
Ukraine.
A Team from the Embassy of India in Hungary has been dispatched to the border post Zohanyi to
coordinate and provide assistance to facilitate the exit of Indians from Ukraine.
"Mission is working with the Govt of Hungary to provide all possible assistance," an official statement says.
Sources said a large number of Indian students in Ukraine turned up outside the Indian Embassy in
Kyiv.
"Naturally, not all could be accommodated inside the Embassy premises.Accordingly, the Embassy
organized safe premises nearby and the students were moved there. This process took some time
given the ground situation in Kyiv," the source told 'Organiser'.
"No Indian national is currently stranded outside the Embassy. As fresh students arrive,
they are being moved to the safe premises. The Embassy is continuing to assist Indian nationals,
including students, in Ukraine," the source said.
The Indian government announced that it is closely monitoring the situation and urgent "contingency
plans" are being put into operation.
"Additional Russian speaking officials have been sent to our Embassy in Ukraine and are being
deployed in countries neighbouring Ukraine," the source maintained.
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