While advocating for an end to the Russia-Ukraine military conflict through dialogue and diplomacy, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have become the “voice of the world”. Amid the BCCI-Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) rift over Asia Cup 2023, Jaishankar stated that “tournaments keep coming, let’s see.”
Speaking at an event organised by a news channel, the External Affairs Minister emphasised that the incumbent central government has taken the side of the well-being of Indian citizens, when asked to comment on which side New Delhi is backing.
Jaishankar said several countries want the Russia-Ukraine conflict to end conflict as soon as possible through dialogue and diplomacy.
“I think today India and Prime Minister Modi, in a way, have become the voice of the world, particularly of the developing countries because its (conflict’s) is being felt by the developing countries,” he said.
Notably, India has strongly defended its import of Russian oil amid the Ukraine-Russia conflict. Amid the criticism of Ukraine, Jaishankar recently said that India’s import of Russian oil was just one-sixth of the European purchase in last nine months.
Commenting on the ties with neighboring Pakistan, the External Affairs Minister categorically stated that cross border terrorism should never be accepted as normal.
“Can you give one example of one neighbour resorting to terrorism day and night against another neighbour,” Jaishankar asked?
“We should never accept that any country has any right to support terrorism,” he added.
When asked to give government’s views on India-Pakistan cricket ties, Jaishankar said, “Tournaments keep coming. Let’s see.”
