JAISHANKAR, UK FOREIGN SECRETARY RAAB DISCUSS BILATERAL ISSUES, COVID-19

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday held a discussion with the UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab over the progress in Afghanistan and the situation in Myanmar.

Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar said they discussed the state of the world, regional issues, Covid-19, and climate action. “Met the UK Foreign Secretary @DominicRaab this morning. Reviewed the progress of our bilateral Road Map. Discussed the state of the world, regional issues, Covid and Climate Action,” he tweeted on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Raab said London and New Delhi’s friendship is invaluable as the two countries tackle common challenges together from Covid-19 to climate change. Jaishankar and Raab are in Rome to attend the G20 ministerial meetings.

Raab tweeted, “At the G20 today @DrSJaishankar & I spoke about the UK-India 2030 Roadmap, progress in Afghanistan & the situation in Myanmar. The UK Flag of United Kingdom & India Flag of India friendship is invaluable as we tackle common challenges together, from Covid-19 to climate change, so we can #BuildBackBetter.”

NEW DELHI: As per sources, social media reports claiming that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met certain Taliban leaders are “completely false, baseless, and mischievous.”

“We have seen social media reports claiming that EAM has met certain Taliban leaders. Such reports are completely false, baseless and mischievous,” a source said. Some reports floating on social media claimed that Jaishankar met some Taliban leaders who assured that the outfit’s future relations with India will not be based on Pakistan’s wishes.

During the UNSC Debate on the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan last week, Jaishankar had called for a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire to ensure reduction in violence in Afghanistan and said that terrorist safe havens and sanctuaries must be dismantled immediately for enduring peace in the war-torn country. Jaishankar had said there needs to be zero tolerance for terrorism in all its forms and manifestations including cross-border terror acts. He had said it is equally important to ensure that the territory of Afghanistan is not used by terrorist groups to threaten or attack any other country and those providing material and financial support to terrorist entities must be held accountable.