S. Jaishankar's First Remarks After Returning as Foreign Minister

Officially on office

S. Jaishankar officially took office today as India's Foreign Minister. At 69, he is among the senior BJP leaders who have kept their positions from the previous government, alongside Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, and Nirmala Sitharaman.

Challenges with Pakistan and China

Jaishankar spoke about India's relationship with Pakistan and China. He said, "The relations with those countries are different, and the problems there are also different. Our focus with regard to China will be on finding a solution for the border issues, and with Pakistan, we would want to find a solution to the issue of years-old cross-border terrorism."

Political Stability in India

Jaishankar highlighted the significance of the BJP being elected three times in a row, saying, "In any country and especially in a democracy, it is a very big deal for a government to get elected three times in a row. So the world will definitely feel that today there is a lot of political stability in India."

Relationswith the Maldives

When asked about the Maldivian parliamentary previous agreements with India, Jaishankar responded, "I had a meeting with President Muizzu and even PM Modi met him. I even had the honour to call on him. So I will prefer to be guided by my experience and conversation."

Ties between India and the Maldives have been tense since President Muizzu, known for his pro-China stance, took office. He demanded the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from the Maldives. These personnel were replaced by civilians earlier this month.

India's Ambitions at the United Nations

Addressing India's goals for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Jaishankar expressed confidence. He said, "I am fully confident under PM Modi's leadership, the foreign policy of Modi 3.0 will be very successful."

Jaishankar emphasized India's growing influence, saying, "They feel that India is truly their friend and they have seen that in times of crisis, if there is one country that stands with the Global South, it is India."

Jaishankar's Background

Jaishankar has a long history of serving India. He was India's Foreign Secretary from 2015 to 2018. He has been an ambassador to the United States, China, and the Czech Republic. He also served as India's High Commissioner to Singapore and had assignments in Moscow, Colombo, Budapest, and Tokyo, along with roles in the Ministry of External Affairs and the President's Secretariat.

-Prisha Jaiswal