Latest news with #SubrahmanyamJaishankar
The Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald
Pakistan 'ready but not desperate' for talks with India, says foreign minister
Pakistan is 'ready but not desperate' for talks with arch-rival India, its foreign minister said on Wednesday, underlining the lack of a thaw in relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours after their worst military conflict in decades. Both sides used fighter jets, missiles, drones and artillery last month in four days of clashes, their worst fighting in decades, before a ceasefire the US said it brokered on May 10. India has denied any third party role in the ceasefire. 'Whenever they ask for a dialogue, at whatever level, we are ready but we are not desperate,' Pakistan's foreign minister Ishaq Dar told a news conference in Islamabad. The spark for the fighting was an April 22 attack in Indian Kashmir that killed 26 people, most of them tourists. New Delhi blamed the incident on 'terrorists' backed by Pakistan, a charge denied by Islamabad. Dar said Pakistan wanted a comprehensive dialogue on a range of issues including water, whereas India wanted to focus only on terrorism. 'That's not on. Nobody else is more serious than us. It takes two to tango,' he said, referring to comments by Indian foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar that the talks should only cover the issue of terrorism. The Indian foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Dar's remarks. New Delhi has previously said the only matter left to discuss with Pakistan was the vacation of what India describes as Pakistani-held territory in Kashmir — a disputed Himalayan region that both nations claim in full but rule in part. Pakistan is keen to discuss water rights after India held 'in abeyance' the Indus Waters Treaty after the April 22 attack. The treaty guarantees water for 80% of Pakistan's farms from three rivers that flow from India. Reuters
Al Arabiya
3 days ago
- General
- Al Arabiya
Pakistan open, ‘not desperate' for talks with arch-rival India: FM
Pakistan is 'ready but not desperate' for talks with arch-rival India, its foreign minister said on Wednesday, in remarks that underline the lack of a thaw between the two nuclear-armed neighbors following their worst military conflict in decades. Both sides used fighter jets, missiles, drones and artillery last month in four days of clashes, their worst fighting in decades, before agreeing to a US-brokered ceasefire on May 10. 'Whenever they ask for a dialogue, at whatever level, we are ready but we are not desperate,' Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told a news conference in Islamabad. The spark for the recent fighting between the old enemies was an April 22 attack in Indian Kashmir that killed 26 people, most of them tourists. New Delhi blamed the incident on 'terrorists' backed by Pakistan, a charge denied by Islamabad. Dar said Pakistan wanted a comprehensive dialogue on a range of issues including water, whereas India wanted to focus only on terrorism. 'That's not on. Nobody else is more serious than us. It takes two to tango,' he said, referring to comments by Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar that the talks should only cover the issue of terrorism. The Indian foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Dar's remarks. New Delhi has previously said that terrorism and dialogue cannot go hand in hand. Pakistan is keen to discuss water rights after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty following the April 22 attack. The treaty guarantees water for 80 percent of Pakistan's farms from three rivers that flow from India.
Gulf Insider
6 days ago
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
The Taliban Is Back In The International Spotlight
Al Jazeera recently published a detailed piece about how India, Pakistan, and Iran are all nowadays wooing the Taliban, which is true, but they left out how Russia and China are as well while also making no mention of the newfound pressure that the US is placing upon the group. In the order that they were mentioned, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar held an historic call with his Afghan counterpart in late May, the first between officials of their level in over a quarter century. He thanked him for condemning April's Pahalgam terrorist attack that led to the latest Indo-Pak conflict and for not falling for fake news meant to stir trouble between them. They also discussed expanding bilateral ties. India and Afghanistan have shared threat perceptions of Pakistan, the first due to the Kashmir Conflict and the second as regards Islamabad's alleged attempts to subordinate Kabul. Closer cooperation between them thus advances their interests but prompts deep suspicion from Pakistan. Segueing into that country's interests, Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harboring terrorist groups, which the Taliban denies. The improvement of their ties upon alleviating their resultant security dilemma could pioneer a Central Eurasian Corridor from Pakistan to Russia and beyond. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi organized a meeting between their top diplomats in Beijing in late May to that end, but it's unclear whether any tangible progress will be achieved. Mutual mistrust might ultimately prove insurmountable. Moving along to Iran, that country had long-standing tensions with the Taliban over water rights and migration, but its Foreign Minister just visited Tehran in an attempt to help resolve them. Whether or not that happens is another story, but Iran has an interest in sincerely doing so due to the newfound pressure that the US is placing on the Taliban, which will be touched upon later on in this analysis. The point is that ties appear to be thawing, and at the very least, tensions might remain manageable for now. Iran's ties with Afghanistan sharply contrast with Russia's, which recently removed the Taliban's terrorist designation, just hosted a delegation at the recent Russia-Islamic World Forum in Kazan where they signed several agreements, and has a grand geo-economic vision for Afghanistan that was detailed here. The aforesaid overlaps with Pakistan's earlier mentioned connectivity plans, which partially explains their rapprochement in recent years and could position Russia to mediate between it and Afghanistan. On that topic, China is already mediating as was written above, but Russia objectively seems to be closer to the Taliban nowadays than they are given the latest agreements that were just signed. In any case, China is poised to play a major role in Afghanistan's reconstruction, though continued security threats stemming from ISIS-K appear to have thus far hampered the implementation of its plans. Nevertheless, these plans still remain in place, and it's possible that they could be speedily implemented in the future. That's precisely what the US wants to prevent, however, thus explaining the newfound pressure that it's placing upon the Taliban through Trump's demand to reobtain control over Bagram Airbase and Rubio's implied threat to redesignate the group as a 'Foreign Terrorist Organization' (possibly only if it refuses). Pakistan's possible collusion with the US will be pivotal in determining what happens. If the US succeeds, then it could reshape South Asian geopolitics, much to India's detriment and possibly also China's. Given the renewed interest that major stakeholders – India, Pakistan, Iran, Russia, China, and the US – have in Afghanistan, the Taliban's return to the international spotlight might portend a new era of cooperation and competition between them. The main variable is whether or not the Afghan-Pakistani security dilemma is soon alleviated and on what terms if so, such as Eurasian-mediated (Russia and/or China) or American-coerced, which will in turn place these dynamics on very different trajectories.
Hindustan Times
30-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Dr. S Jaishankar's daily routine for staying fit at 70 includes yoga, morning squash, 30 minutes walk
Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, better known as S. Jaishankar, India's External Affairs Minister, maintains his fitness and vitality through a disciplined daily routine. Despite his extremely busy schedule, he doesn't compromise on staying active. At 70, his simple yet consistent approach helps him remain fit, focused and ready to tackle the demands of his high-pressure role. (Also read: Tiger Shroff says he lost a lot of weight through dance, flaunts six-pack in new video; why you should try this too ) In a May 16 interview with YourStory, Dr. S. Jaishankar offered a rare peek into his everyday routine. From navigating 2 a.m. global calls to battling jet lag and squeezing in squash matches, his daily life perfectly balances international diplomacy with personal well-being. "My routine exists, but it often shifts," he explained. "With foreign policy, there's constant travel, and sometimes the jet lag is so intense, you don't even know where you are, physically or mentally." Despite his demanding schedule, Dr. Jaishankar sticks to a simple yet consistent morning ritual. His day typically begins around 6 a.m., which he admits is "not considered early" by his family. The early hours are dedicated to grounding his body and mind through yoga and physiotherapy-style stretches. One of his longstanding habits is a game of squash, a practice he's held onto for years. "Main game khelta hoon. Usually, I go to play squash," he shared. He also prioritises a daily 30-minute walk with his wife, not just for fitness but also for meaningful connection. "At the very least, we get to talk during that time, so that's an added bonus," he said with a smile. From early morning updates from Indian missions to skimming through 10–12 newspapers and global summaries, Dr. Jaishankar stays constantly informed. "There is a certain manner you build your life around that disturbance, that also becomes a habit," he says, referring to the unpredictability of his schedule. His day officially begins around 9:30 a.m. and includes high-level meetings, ministry reviews, and key diplomatic decisions. Evenings are equally demanding, often spent on political meetings, clearing files, or late-night calls with Western counterparts. "It's a 24/7 life because somewhere, someone is awake, and something is happening." Still, he carves out moments for himself, be it a web series on a flight, music, or a quick read. "Movies are a bit of a challenge because you don't get two hours. I prefer serials, in 45 minutes you can see one episode, at least you can kind of move on."
Globe and Mail
30-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Canada-India relations will be repaired ‘one step at a time': Anita Anand
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Canada looks forward to rebuilding ties with India as part of an effort to diversify trade away from the United States – even as the RCMP investigation into the killing of Canadian Hardeep Singh Nijjar continues. Canada-India relations suffered a major rupture in September 2023, when then prime minister Justin Trudeau accused India of a role in the June 2023 murder of Mr. Nijjar, a prominent advocate for a separate state for Sikhs in the Indian state of Punjab. India has denied the allegation. Twenty months after this diplomatic breach, Canada's and India's ambassador-level posts in each other's country are still vacant. Ms. Anand spoke by phone with her Indian counterpart, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, on May 25. Asked Thursday if she believes that call is the beginning of a process that will lead to the exchange of high commissioners between India and Canada, she said Ottawa is approaching the relationship incrementally. 'We are certainly taking it one step at a time. As I mentioned, the rule of law will never be compromised, and there is an ongoing investigation regarding the case that you mentioned,' she said in an interview, referring to Mr. Nijjar's murder. 'At the same time, we are looking forward to continuing to build this partnership, and we're looking forward to that as a government – it's not just me.' A year after Hardeep Singh Nijjar's death, mysteries remain about how he really lived 'It's part of the process of diversifying our relationships and building relationships around the world.' Prime Minister Mark Carney won April's federal election after campaigning on a plan to reduce the country's dependency on the United States, which he painted as increasingly unreliable. Ms. Anand, whose previous cabinet posts have included defence, procurement and Treasury Board, played a leading role in purchasing COVID-19 vaccines for Canada. She said her focus as foreign affairs minister will be economic. 'We will use diplomacy to strategically advance Canada's economic interests,' Ms. Anand said, adding later: 'My role is to stand up for Canada and the best interests of Canadians, so that we are not so dependent on one large economy to the south of us.' Asked whether she asked India to identify which of its officials played a role in the murder of Mr. Nijjar, Ms. Anand said the RCMP's probe is out of the hands of the government. 'That investigation is independent and it will continue under the auspices of an independent agency.' Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the B.C. plumber whose murder became the catalyst in a geopolitical crisis Goldy Hyder, president of the Business Council of Canada, said India is important to Canada's economic interests. Mr. Hyder said he plans to travel to India in July to set the stage for larger business trade delegation either in the fall or early in 2026. 'You can't have an Indo-Canadian strategy without the Indo, and at some point in time, a mature democracy dealing with another mature democracy finds a way to deal with difficult situations,' Mr. Hyder said. Trade experts have called for Canada to follow the lead of the United States and Britain in rolling back sanctions on Syria now that former dictator Bashar al-Assad has been replaced by a new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa. Ms. Anand noted that in March, Ottawa announced it would temporarily ease existing sanctions on Syria for a period of six months 'to support democratization, stabilization and the delivery of aid during this period of transition.' She said apart from that, Ottawa is monitoring the situation. U.S. President Donald Trump has pitched Canada on joining the White House's Golden Dome plan for a US$171-billion system to expand continental defences against missile and drone attacks. He also said it would cost Canada US$61-billion to join but Canadians could get it for free if they agreed to be annexed as the '51st State.' Ms. Anand avoided discussing Mr. Trump's annexation proposal but said Ottawa needs to keep strong ties with Washington on military matters. 'The advantage is to maintain a strong partnership with the United States on defense and security. Period. And that is why the Prime Minister has signaled that we are open to that conversation relating to what other measures can be taken to strengthen that co-operation and strengthen the protection of Canada's airspace,' she said. 'All options are on the table, and we will spare no expense for the safety and security of Canadians.' On Israel, Ms. Anand did not answer whether she expected Canada recognize Palestine as a sovereign state in the near term. 'The only way to bring peace and security to both Israelis and Palestinians is the release of hostages, the immediate return to a ceasefire and working toward the implementation of a two-state solution,' the foreign affairs minister said.
