Latest news with #SJaishankar
India Gazette
15 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Iran Foreign Minister shares his country's perspective on current situation during phone conversation with Jaishankar
New Delhi [India], June 28 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a telephonic conversation with Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and thanked him for facilitating the safe evacuation of Indian nationals. The Iranian Minister shared his country's perspective and thinking in the current complex situation. In a post on X, Jaishankar wrote, 'Spoke to FM @araghchi of Iran this afternoon. Appreciate his sharing Iran's perspective and thinking in the current complex situation. Thanked him for facilitating the safe evacuation of Indian nationals.' India, so far, has evacuated 3,426 Indian nationals from Iran and 818 Indian nationals from Israel in Operation Sindhu, said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Thursday during a weekly briefing. 'We launched Operation Sindhu on the 18th of June. We have around 10,000 people from the Indian community in Iran, around 40,000 people in Israel who are Indian nationals.' Iran's nuclear program took serious blows in Israel's bombings since June 13, and particularly early on Sunday, when the US dropped massive bunker-buster munitions and fired missiles at three of its nuclear facilities, joining the Israeli campaign. The Israeli and American strikes targeted uranium enrichment sites and various research and development facilities tied to the program. Washington DC and Tel Aviv have asserted that the bombings caused significant damage to Iran's nuclear ambitions and set the country back considerably, Times of Israel reported. Early Tuesday morning, US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Iran and Israel following the strikes, urging both sides 'not to violate it.' It was not immediately clear how Washington and Jerusalem intended to solidify the military achievements and prevent Iran from restarting its nuclear efforts following that announcement. Both countries confirmed the ceasefire after it was announced, but the truce appeared on the verge of collapse mere hours after its declaration, when Iran launched two missiles toward northern Israel. Israel's leaders vowed retaliation, as per the Times of Israel. Iran's ISNA news agency asserted that reports Iran had fired missiles after the ceasefire took effect were false. (ANI)
United News of India
17 hours ago
- Politics
- United News of India
Emergency responsible for decision to give up the rights of Indian fishermen: EAM Jaishankar
New Delhi, June 27 (UNI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today said the Emergency imposed by then PM Indira Gandhi is responsible for the persistent issue of Indian fishermen being arrested by Sri Lanka. Speaking at an event to mark the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, the EAM said that during the time an agreement was reached between India and Sri Lanka in which the rights of Indian fishermen to fish in some areas of the waters of Sri Lanka was given up. He said: 'During the Emergency, sometimes major decisions were taken, without debate. 'Today a major issue is being talked about -- that our fishermen are arrested in Sri Lanka. Do you know the reason why? 'The reason is because during the Emergency an agreement was reached with Sri Lanka in which the fishermen's rights to fish in some areas of the waters of Sri Lanka, that right we gave up. 'If there had been no Emergency, and if there had been a parliament, a truly genuine parliament, then the issue would have been debated. I do not know if the parliament at the time would have agreed to such a decision or not,' he added. He said the consequences of this decision are still visible in Tamil Nadu. The EAM was referring to the 1974 and 1976 agreements reached between India and Sri Lanka over the Katchatheevu island and rights over their respective Exclusive Economic Zone areas. Katchatheevu, an uninhabited island, was ceded to Sri Lanka under a maritime agreement in 1974. Another agreement was signed in 1976 -- when the Emergency was in progress -- that restricted the fishermen of both countries from fishing in each other's exclusive economic zones. In other remarks, the EAM urged people to remain vigilant against history repeating itself, and said that India needs an empowered public to avoid future such autocratic decisions. EAM said the image of India as the oldest and largest democracy in the world took a beating when the Emergency was imposed on June 25, 1975. He also recalled his own experiences of police raids in the hostels of Jawaharlal Nehru University. UNI RN
NDTV
a day ago
- Politics
- NDTV
"Appreciate His Sharing...": S Jaishankar Meets Iranian Counterpart
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday spoke to his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi and discussed the overall situation that emerged following the 12-day hostilities between Iran and Israel. S Jaishankar also thanked Araghchi for Tehran's assistance in evacuation of several hundred Indians from Iran. "Spoke to FM @araghchi of Iran this afternoon. Appreciate his sharing Iran's perspective and thinking in the current complex situation," S Jaishankar said in a social media post. Spoke to FM @araghchi of Iran this afternoon. Appreciate his sharing Iran's perspective and thinking in the current complex situation. Thanked him for facilitating the safe evacuation of Indian nationals. 🇮🇳 🇮🇷 — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 27, 2025 "Thanked him for facilitating the safe evacuation of Indian nationals," he said. The conflict between Iran and Israel escalated following the US bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday morning. US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. The ceasefire seems to be holding. India on Thursday said it is closely following updates from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) about radiation levels at the Iranian nuclear sites following attacks on them. New Delhi also reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy is the only way forward for early restoration of regional peace and stability. "India is closely following updates from the IAEA about the radiation levels in the affected site," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Thursday. "We have noted that so far IAEA has reported that the targeted facilities either confirmed no nuclear material, or small quantities of natural or low enriched uranium, and that radioactive contamination has been limited to the buildings affected by the strikes," he said. "We urge return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy for an early restoration of regional peace, security, and stability," he said. India on Tuesday welcomed the ceasefire between Iran and Israel after 12 days of hostilities. At the same time, New Delhi reiterated its concerns about sustained security and stability in West Asia.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
50 years of Emergency: EAM Jaishankar blames 1974 deal for fishermen arrests by Sri Lanka; says consequences still visible in Tamil Nadu
External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Friday said that the root of the ongoing issue of Sri Lanka arresting Indian fishermen lies in a controversial agreement made during the Emergency era, under which India gave up certain fishing rights. Speaking at an event organised by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) to mark the 50th anniversary of Emergency, Jaishankar said such a deal would not have gone through if Parliament had been functioning properly at the time. 'We hear about our fishermen arrested by Sri Lanka. The reason is that an agreement was entered into during Emergency under which the rights of the fishermen for fishing in some sea waters of Sri Lanka was abandoned,' Jaishankar said. The 1974 maritime agreement, signed under then the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's government, ceded the uninhabited Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka. A follow-up agreement in 1976 barred Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen from entering each other's exclusive economic zones—restrictions that continue to affect fishing communities in Tamil Nadu. 'The consequences of this decision are still visible in Tamil Nadu,' the EAM noted. Criticising the Congress for bypassing democratic processes during the Emergency, Jaishankar said, 'Had a genuine Parliament functioned at the time, there would have been a debate and this decision would not be accepted.' He said many major decisions were taken without public or parliamentary scrutiny during that 21-month period, which began on June 25, 1975. Reflecting on the time, Jaishankar recalled police raids in Jawaharlal Nehru University hostels and shared how his family had links with anti-Emergency leaders such as George Fernandes. 'I heard from my seniors in the foreign service how difficult it was to defend India after the murder of the Constitution and democracy by the imposition of Emergency,' he said. In a pointed attack on the Congress leadership, Jaishankar said that an Emergency situation arises when the 'family' is kept ahead of the country. 'Some people keep the copy of Constitution in their pockets but have other intentions in their hearts,' PTI cited the external minister. Without naming Rahul Gandhi directly, he questioned the party's refusal to apologise for the Emergency, saying it was not just a political mistake but an assault on the people's way of life. The younger generation must learn how the Congress strangled the Constitution out of greed for power, he said, referring to the mock parliament conducted by the BJYM. He further added that empowering citizens is the key to preventing any similar situation in future. He also took a swipe at the opposition's repeated claims of an 'undeclared Emergency' under the current government. 'I want to clarify that this is not the time of an Emergency nor will there be one in the future. That is why we are all present here at this mock parliament today,' he said. During the Emergency, Jaishankar pointed out, five Constitutional amendments and 48 Ordinances were passed, one of which prevented Emergency provisions from being challenged in any court. Calling India's peaceful resistance during that time proof that 'democracy is in our DNA,' he said the public's rejection of Emergency through the ballot box eventually led to fresh elections and the restoration of democratic rule. He also touched on moments of unity, saying Operation Sindoor, where even opposition leaders joined efforts to bolster India's global position, reflected 'deep national pride' and stood as an antidote to the authoritarianism of the Emergency. "The events of 50 years ago should not just be viewed as history — they still live on in the minds of many. Therefore, we must remain cautious of those who still have no regret about the Emergency," he said.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Indian fishermen nabbed by Sri Lanka because their rights given up during Emergency: Jaishankar
NEW DELHI: The issue of Sri Lanka arresting Indian fishermen stems from an agreement during the Emergency under which their rights for fishing in some specific areas were given up, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Friday. The agreement with Sri Lanka would not have been possible if a genuine Parliament functioned at that time, Jaishankar said at an event organised by the BJP Yuva Morcha to mark the 50th anniversary of the Emergency. Katchatheevu, an uninhabited island was ceded to Sri Lanka by then Indira Gandhi regime in the country under a maritime agreement in 1974. Further, another agreement signed in 1976 restricted the fishermen of both countries from fishing in the other's exclusive economic zones. Jaishankar said big decisions were sometimes taken without any parliamentary debate during the Emergency period. "We hear about our fishermen arrested by Sri Lanka. The reason is that an agreement was entered into during Emergency under which the rights of the fishermen for fishing in some sea waters of Sri Lanka was abandoned," Jaishankar said. Had a genuine Parliament functioned at the time, there would have been a debate and this decision would not be accepted, the minister said. The consequences of this decision are still visible in Tamil Nadu, he added. Jaishankar said the image of India as the oldest and largest democracy in the world took a beating when the Emergency was imposed on June 25, 1975. He also recalled his own experiences of police raids at hostels of the Jawaharlal Nehru University and his family's links with leaders like George Fernandes. "I heard from my seniors in the foreign service how difficult it was to defend India after the murder of the Constitution and democracy by the imposition of Emergency," he said.
