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Blinken, Jaishankar meet in London, discuss Covid situation

India's External Affairs Minister Dr S.Jaishankar meets US Secretary of StateAntony Blinken in London

Jaishankar conveys India’s appreciation for the support extended by the US to India in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, reports Asian Lite News

In their first in-person meeting on Monday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken deliberated on ways to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, situation in the Indo-Pacific and issues relating to climate change.

S Jaishankar and Secretary Blinken held the talks in London on the sidelines of the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting.

In a series of tweets, S Jaishankar said he conveyed to Blinken appreciation for the support extended by the US to India in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

5th in a series of consignments carrying medical equipment arrives from the US(Twitter)

“Good to meet in person my old friend @SecBlinken. Detailed discussion on the global Covid challenge, focussing on expanded vaccine production capacity and reliable supply chains,” he tweeted.

The external affairs minister said the meeting also covered issues relating to Indo-Pacific, climate change and UN Security Council.

Also read:Biden hopes to meet Putin in June

“Expressed appreciation for the strong US support to India at this difficult time, especially oxygen and Remdesivir. Our meeting also covered issues of Indo-Pacific, UN Security Council, Myanmar and climate change,” he said.

S Jaishankar and Blinken held in-depth discussion on the COVID-19 challenge and the immediate requirements of India, sources said.

5th in a series of consignments carrying medical equipment arrives from the US(Twitter)

Blinken assured Jaishankar that the US is monitoring developments closely and will respond positively to any Indian requirements.

Meanwhile, flights from the US carrying Covid-19 aid to India have been delayed, the Department of Defense (DOD) of that country said on Monday night. So far, four flights have landed in India with Covid-19-related supplies such as Remdesivir, oxygen cylinders, medical equipment and other regulators.

“The final two flights of COVID-19 aid to India have been delayed at least until Wednesday,” US DOD said on Monday. The US Transportation command said that the delay was due to ‘maintenance issues’.

“Fifth in a series of consignments carrying medical equipment arrives from the US. This one carrying 545 oxygen concentrators,” tweeted MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

A flight carrying 1,000 oxygen cylinders, medical equipment reached India on Saturday night. Earlier last week, the first two planes carrying emergency relief supplies, rapid diagnostic tests and N95 masks and other medical equipment reached India. The White House has already announced that it will deliver medical aid worth Rs 100 million to India to provide urgent relief as the country battles the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic.

1700 oxygen concentrators, multiple large-scale Oxygen Generation Units that can support up to 20 patients in India are among supplies that are a part of the US commitment towards assistance to New Delhi in its fight against COVID-19. The Biden administration has also facilitated the manufacturing of 20 million doses of vaccine by AstraZeneca.

Also read:Priti, Jaishankar sign Migration & Mobility partnership

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India welcomes ASEAN initiative on Myanmar

S.-Jaishankar

ASEAN leaders have urged the head of Myanmar’s military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, to end the violent crackdown in the country at the summit…reports Asian Lite News

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Sunday said that India welcomed the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) initiative on Myanmar and will continue to play a constructive and meaningful role aimed at resolving the current situation in Myanmar, in response to media queries on the initiative on Myanmar agreed to at the ASEAN Summit held on Saturday.

“We welcome the ASEAN initiative on Myanmar agreed to at the ASEAN Summit held on April 24. Our diplomatic engagement with Myanmar will be aimed at strengthening these efforts,” said Bagchi.

“India, as a friend of the people of Myanmar, will continue to play a constructive and meaningful role aimed at resolving the current situation in Myanmar. India’s support to the democratic process in Myanmar remains steadfast,” added Bagchi.

ASEAN leaders have urged the head of Myanmar’s military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who took power in a coup on February 1, to end the violent crackdown in the country at the summit.

ASEAN leaders meeting(Twitter)
Also read:EU sanctions Myanmar officials

The 10-member ASEAN had reached a consensus on five points.

This includes: there shall be an “immediate cessation of violence” and restraint by all parties; all parties shall commence “constructive dialogue” toward “a peaceful solution in the interests of the people”; a special envoy of the ASEAN chair shall mediate the dialogue; ASEAN shall provide humanitarian assistance, and the special envoy and delegation shall visit Myanmar to meet with all parties.

This meeting was held in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, the first in-person gathering of the bloc’s leaders since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.

The host, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, said after the meeting that “inclusive dialogue must start,” while echoing the call to release political prisoners. “We need to appoint a special ASEAN envoy to push for dialogues involving all parties in Myanmar.”

As of April 24, 748 people have been confirmed to be killed since the military takeover in Myanmar, according to Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).

On February 1, the Myanmar military overthrew the civilian government and declared a year-long state of emergency. The coup triggered mass protests and was met by deadly violence. (ANI)

Also read:Myanmar junta chief in Indonesia for talks

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India, US team up for Afghan stability

Both nations agreed to close and frequent coordination in support of a lasting peace and development for the people of Afghanistan…reports Arul Louis

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar have agreed that the two nations will coordinate on efforts to promote stability in Afghanistan, from where Washington and NATO will be withdrawing their troops, according to State Department spokesperson Ned Price.

Blinken spoke to Jaishankar “to reaffirm the importance of the US-India relationship and cooperation on regional security issues”, Price said in a readout of their conversation on Monday.

They “agreed to close and frequent coordination in support of a lasting peace and development for the people of Afghanistan”, he said.

Myanmar, where the military has flouted the results of parliamentary elections, imprisoned the democratically elected leaders and cracked down on protesters since the February 1, figured in their talks.

They “reaffirmed their shared commitment to democratic values and mutual support for the restoration of democracy in Burma”, Price said using the old name for Myanmar.

Other issues discussed were cooperation on climate change, for which President Joe Biden is convening a global summit, Covid-19 and “other global challenges”, he said.

Jaishankar said in a tweet that their “conversation covered recent developments in India’s immediate and extended neighbourhood. Exchanged views on the UNSC agenda. Also discussed issues pertaining to our health cooperation”.

Also read:Biden team adds 2 Indian-Americans

Reports that the US was going to lift the embargo on exporting raw materials needed for making Covid-19 vaccines followed the mention of health and the pandemic as topics of their conversation.

However, President Joe Biden’s Spokesperson Jen Psaki would not confirm if there was an agreement on allowing the vaccine raw materials export.

Announcing his decision to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan ending a 20-year-old war, Biden last week asked India and other regional countries to pitch in to help stabilise the country.

India, which was mostly on the sidelines of the US efforts to make a deal with the Taliban to facilitate the troop withdrawal by the September 11 deadline, has been invited at Washington’s suggestion to an Afghanistan peace conference in Turkey this month.

New Delhi has given Afghanistan economic assistance of over $3 billion since 2001 and also provided security assistance through training over 4,000 Afghan military and security personnel and supplying helicopters.

India also built Afghanistan’s Parliament and is constructing a network of roads that would also provide a link for the landlocked country to a port it has constructed in Chabahar, Iran.

Also read:Covid surge: India on UK’s red list

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Congress Questions UAE Role in Indo-Pak Talks

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum with India's Minister of external affairs S Jaishankar

Congress questions govt over UAE claims of brokering Indo-Pak contact. Congress leader Kharge alleged that under this government, “not only are others now mediating between India and Pakistan but our internal affairs like J&K are being internationalised”

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge has questioned the government over an UAE diplomat’s claims of brokering contacts between India and Pakistan.

At a virtual press conference, the Congress leader said: “We have seen reports of a UAE diplomat claiming to have brokered contacts between India and Pakistan. It has been one of the successes of Indian diplomacy since the 1972 Simla agreement to ensure that we deal with Pakistan bilaterally, and to prevent foreign mediation.”

Kharge alleged that under this government, “not only are others now mediating between India and Pakistan but our internal affairs like J&K are being internationalised”.

“We hope that our government sees reason and returns to India’s tried and tested policies,” he added.

As per media reports, United Arab Emirates (UAE) envoy to the United States has claimed that the Gulf country is playing the role of a mediator between India and Pakistan.

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Pak FM rules out meeting with Jaishankar

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi

“I don’t think a meeting is set out with the Indian Foreign Minister… We want peace in the region and cordial ties with all our neighbours including India,” Qureshi added…reports Asian Lite News

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who is on a three-day visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has ruled out backchannel talks with his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar, who is also in the Gulf country.

“I am here for a bilateral visit and not an India-specific agenda. My agenda is UAE-Pakistan and not India-Pakistan,” The Express Tribune quoted Qureshi as saying to reporters in Dubai on Sunday, a day after reaching the UAE, putting an end to speculations of a possible meeting with Jaishankar.

“I don’t think a meeting is set out with the Indian Foreign Minister… We want peace in the region and cordial ties with all our neighbours including India,” he added.

The Minister welcomed the UAE’s mediation in resolving Pakistan’s issues with India.

“We welcome third-party facilitation but no matter what friends say, the initiative has to be indigenous,” he added.

Also read:HK to halt flights from India,Pakistan