Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 31
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday expressed his desire for good relations, but also sought it, in a clear response to Pakistan, saying that India wants good neighborly relations but will not allow terrorism to be used as a tool to force the country to the negotiating table. (India) to demonstrate “seriousness” in dialogue to resolve outstanding issues including Kashmir.
“We have made it very clear that we will not normalize and rationalize terrorism. We want good neighborly relations with all. But good neighborly relations do not mean condoning, shunning or rationalizing terrorism. We are very clear,” he said while interacting with the Indian diaspora in Nicosia.
Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch stated that they have adopted a peaceful neighborly policy based on mutual respect and sovereign equality with all countries of South Asia. Jaishankar’s visit is also seen as an attempt to boost ties with Turkey’s geopolitical rivals, like Ankara. Strengthening ties with Pakistan and Uzbekistan. Cyprus said the meetings with Jaishankar will discuss Turkey’s “provocative actions” as well as current regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Jaishankar also admitted that India’s relations with China are not normal. “Challenges at borders have intensified during the Covid era. You all know that the state of our relations with China today is not normal. They are not normal as we do not accept any attempt to unilaterally change the Line of Actual Control (LAC). So I can share with you a picture of firmness on the foreign policy side, on the national security side, on diplomacy,” he observed.
Retired Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said last week that Beijing was ready to work with India for “steady and good growth” of bilateral relations.
A day after signing three agreements with Cyprus, Jaishankar assured that the Mediterranean will see India more in the future and the relationship with Cyprus will be an anchor. He also listed seven areas where the two countries could work together, including finance, shipping, tourism, mobility flows and third country projects.
“Mediterranean is an area of increasing interest for us. Looking at our other relations over the past few years with the northern and southern Mediterranean countries, the ties are very clear,” Jaishankar said at a business association event in Limassol, Cyprus’s second largest city, on Friday. Along with the MoU on defense and military cooperation, migration And the two sides signed a letter of intent on mobility and a framework agreement on the International Solar Alliance.
Do not look away
We do not normalize and rationalize terrorism. Need good neighborly relations. But this does not mean excusing, shunning or rationalizing terrorism. We are very clear. – S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister
