Highlighting India's significant role in resolving global conflicts, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized that India is uniquely positioned to engage in dialogue with both Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Iran. During his two-day visit to Spain, Jaishankar made these remarks while interacting with the Indian community on Monday.
'India Can Talk to Both Russia and Ukraine'
The Foreign Minister referenced the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, where Israel is in conflict with Iran-backed Hamas. He expressed that today, India is being recognized as a country contributing to global dialogue, with very few nations capable of communicating with both Russia and Ukraine.
'PM Modi Visited Both Russia and Ukraine'
He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi made two visits to Russia last year and also traveled to Kyiv, Ukraine. He stated that India is one of the few countries in a position to engage in discussions with both Israel and Iran. As a member of QUAD and BRICS, Modi possesses the capacity to conduct both types of dialogues effectively.
He remarked, 'This is truly something unique. It's unique because if you look at the world, it's a highly polarized one.' The QUAD includes Australia, Japan, the USA, and India, while the BRICS group now consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the UAE.
Jaishankar shared that India was the nation responsible for including the African Union in the G-20, acknowledging this should have been accomplished years ago. He further stated that India plans to construct 4,000 kilometers of new railway lines every year, with 12 to 14 kilometers of new tracks being laid daily. Additionally, 28 kilometers of highways are constructed daily, and the number of airports in the country has doubled to over 150 in the past decade.
He revealed that the number of metro trains in India has surged from six in 2014 to 21 today, with plans to extend this network to 60 cities. The Foreign Minister also highlighted India's achievements in areas like space technology, notably India's successful landing of the Chandrayaan-3 mission on the Moon's south side.
