HTLS 2021: On security scenario, Jaishankar stresses status check on India's neighbours
The foreign minister also took on China, saying that India's neighbour broke all the agreements by engaging in the standoff and massing troops at the LAC.
Foreign minister S Jaishankar refuted the claims that the security scenario in India is deteriorating. He was speaking to foreign affairs expert Pramit Pal Chaudhuri om Hindustan Times Leadership Summit (HTLS).
Foreign minister S Jaishankar refuted the claims that the security scenario in India is deteriorating. He was speaking to foreign affairs expert Pramit Pal Chaudhuri om Hindustan Times Leadership Summit (HTLS).
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"As compared to when you had 26/11, ports in Sri Lanka are being built by other people, change of government in Maldives through non-democratic means, separatists and terrorists being given shelter by some of the countries in our east - would you compare to that and say we are worse off than that?" Jaishankar said.
He was asked about the change in government in Afghanistan and massing of troops by China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The foreign minister also took on China, saying that India's neighbour broke all the agreements by engaging in the standoff and massing troops at the LAC.
"Bringing forces to the border - it was not an impression we had or we thought we had an understanding. We had it in cold print in two agreements so there's no ambiguity on that score. There were very, very clear agreements, not to mass forces on the border. And those commitments stand violated as of 2020 spring," said Jaishankar.
On Afghanistan, which has been captured by the Taliban, the minister said that the situation on the ground is very complicated. "We really have to watch where it goes. It also justifies the prudence that we have shown that not being in a hurry... Not being led by arguments that everyone is doing it so why shouldn’t we,” he added.
Jaishankar also clarified that India's top priority is national security amid the ever changing geopolitical trends and shifts.
India and China have been engaged in a stand-off in eastern Ladakh on the LAC since June last year, when the two armies even engaged in skirmish that led to loss of lives on both the sides. India and China have been holding the talks since last year to resolve the standoff and 13 rounds have been held so far.
The troop deployment has increased along the LAC since the standoff.
