"Let's not normalize what is happening in Canada...How would you react if you were in my shoes?......," Dr Jaishankar on recent row vis-a-vis attacks on Indian diplomats

 "...It's an ongoing conversation...Yes, I did spend some time on it...Yes, we discussed other things...Our relationship has many dimensions. Many areas of cooperation...I want to be fair. If something is discussed, I am transparent about it. I have no problem saying yes we discussed it. 

"We have had smoke bombs thrown at the mission....," he said.

I don't want you to think that in the India-US relationship, there is only one issue. I would say yes, it's an ongoing conversation...

We are a democracy. We don't need to learn from other people what freedom of speech is about...We don't think freedom of speech extends to incitement to violence. That to us, is the misuse of freedom...How would you react if you were in my shoes? 

If it was your diplomats, your embassy, your people, what would be your reaction?, " External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said at a press conference in Washington. 

"...Our point is that there is today a climate of violence, an atmosphere of intimidation...Just just think about it. We have had smoke bombs thrown at the mission. We've had our consulates, violence in front of them. Individuals have been targeted and intimidated.

There are posters put up about people. So tell me, do you consider this normal?... If this had happened to any other country, how would they react to it?...

Let's not normalize what is happening in Canada...So I think it's necessary to call out what is happening there and our point is this:

There may be an individual incident. Yes, if there is an incident and there is an investigation and there are allegations you know there are processes involved in it. I mean nobody is disputing that..."

Dr S Jaishankar says, "No incident is isolated and no incident is the totality. There is a context for everything and there are multiple problems out there...But there is a larger issue...I think the larger issue should be flagged...".

"In India, it will not come as a surprise to anybody if you tell them that there are people in Canada who are advocating violence, separatism...All Indians notice, I suspected very few Americans notice...When Americans look at Canada, they see something, when we in India look at Canada, we see something else and that's a part of the problem...What we have taken is a very reasonable stance...

When was the last time that any of our missions was intimidated to a point where it could not continue with its normal functioning?...If someone says this could happen in a G7 country, in a Commonwealth country, it gives you a lot to think about."

"...Right now there is such an environment where there is a kind of pressure on our Embassies, our High Commissioners and our Consulates. Violence is being propagated against them...How can they carry out the work of visa in such an environment?...

 "This is a matter of law and order. Under the Vienna Convention, it is the responsibility of every country to provide security to its embassy and those working in the embassy. 

.....Don't make it bilateral. This environment is not in India...Social media postings, protests and threats are happening in Canada. They (the Canadian government) should take action there."

We've always said that look if there is information let us know...It's not that our doors are shut to looking at something. If there is a requirement for us to look at something, we are open to looking at it. But, I then expect somewhere...something for me to look at."

"...Everyone is aware of the amount of attention that the Modi government has paid to the issues of the Sikh community in the last 10 years and the suggestions it has made." 

"I do not believe that the discussions that are taking place right now are the representative issues of the entire community (Sikhs)...Those who talk about terrorism, the separatist people...whose arguments involve violence...This is a small minority...Don't take this as a matter for the entire community...". - Jaishankar

Pakistan ::: 'unnamed country to the west of India' :::: - ".... multiple chickens are coming home to roost," says Dr Jaishankar 

"The unnamed country to our west, their problems are much more long-term...," diagnosed External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar at the Hudson Institute when asked to comment on the economic crisis confronting that country.  

 "There are countries in different parts of the world in crises of different kinds, and we have a few proximate to us. We saw Sri Lanka, which really went through a very, very almost economic meltdown last year, and we had to step forward," the Minister said.

He also pointed out that India has actually "did the largest bilateral lending that we have ever done"...

--- almost a package of $4 billion as a way of stabilizing their economy. 

Referring to Pakistan as was stated by the questioner, Dr Jaishankar said --- 

"The unnamed country to our west, their problems are much more long-term. They are much more deeper historically in terms of what happens when distortions have been introduced into the natural progress of an economy, excessive expenditure on the military or if your borrowing has not been prudent or if you have infrastructure which doesn't pay its way. 

"I think there are a lot of factors there in multiple chickens are coming home to roost at the same time," Dr Jaishankar said without naming Pakistan. 

"Look, we are a democracy. We don't need to learn from others what freedom of speech is about," the Minister said at a press conference.

"We don't think freedom of speech extends to incitement of violence. That to us is misuse of freedom, not defense of freedom," Dr Jaishankar said in reference to the row triggered by the Canadian authorities. 

"It's not like our doors are shut to look at something. But we need something to look at," Dr Jaishankar said, when asked about the lack of evidence for Canada's allegations against India.

"If they are prepared to share with us specifics (of their allegations) and any relevant information, we are also open to looking at it, but what we do not want to see is an incident treated in isolation as it doesn't convey the right picture," he said.

 I don't know if I would use the term deadlock...The issue is as follows: The Canadians have made some allegations. 

We have pointed out to them that this is not the Government of India's policy and if they are prepared to share with us specifics and anything relevant, we are also open to looking at it. So in that sense, that's where the matter stands but what we do not want to see is an incident treated in isolation because then that somewhere does not convey the right picture. 

The fact is that we have had an ongoing problem with Canada and the Canadian government for some years now. And the ongoing problem really revolves around the permissiveness in regard to terrorism, extremism and violence.  

This permissiveness is also reflected in the fact that some important extradition requests have not been responded to from their side in the fact that there are individuals and organizations who are clearly involved with violence and illegal activities in India, who themselves declared. I mean it is not a secret. 

They continue to carry on with their activities in Canada and most important, the fact that our diplomatic missions and our diplomatic personnel have been consistently and continuously intimidated in Canada...The fact that we have had to temporarily suspend our visa operations...It is just that they made it very difficult for us to operate those services..."

The Pakistan government has been running a large, unsustainable fiscal deficit of around 7 pc of GDP for the last many years, which is the main reason for the accumulation of its huge domestic and foreign public debt, external sector fragility and inflation.

Last year, the government was able to obtain $10.8bn in external financing and had to impose strict restrictions on imports and even on legitimate dollar outflows to avoid defaulting, reports 'Dawn'.