India’s Foreign Minister S Jaishankar Talks About China, Bangladesh, and Pakistan
New Delhi, August 31: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar described China as a ‘unique problem’ during his address at the ET World Leaders Forum. He emphasized that India is not alone in debating issues related to China, pointing out that many countries, including the US and European nations, are also concerned about China.
China: A Unique Problem
Jaishankar explained that decades ago, countries chose to overlook the nature of Chinese production, which has now led to trade deficits and other issues. He stated, “China is a unique problem because it has a unique polity and economy. It’s not just an Indian problem.” He also mentioned the 2020 clash between Indian and Chinese troops at Galwan and the ongoing tensions at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.
Relations with Neighbors
Jaishankar discussed the complexities of relationships with neighboring countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan. He noted that changes in government in these democratic nations often lead to political debates that involve India. He said, “By definition, relationships with neighbors are very complicated. They are all democratic polities. Governments will change, and there will be political debates in their country.”
Bangladesh
Speaking at the release of Ambassador Rajiv Sikri’s book, “Strategic Conundrums: Reshaping India’s Foreign Policy,” Jaishankar mentioned that political changes in Bangladesh can be disruptive. He stressed the importance of finding mutual interests with Bangladesh and dealing with the government of the day.
Pakistan
On the topic of Pakistan, Jaishankar stated that the era of uninterrupted dialogue is over. He said, “Actions have consequences. And insofar as Jammu and Kashmir is concerned, I think Article 370 is done.” He emphasized that India will react to events in Pakistan, whether they take a positive or negative direction.
Doubts Revealed
Foreign Minister -: A Foreign Minister is a government official who is responsible for managing a country’s relationships with other countries. In India, this person is called the External Affairs Minister.
S Jaishankar -: S Jaishankar is the current External Affairs Minister of India. He helps manage India’s relationships with other countries.
China -: China is a large country in East Asia. It shares a long border with India and has a very big population.
Bangladesh -: Bangladesh is a neighboring country to the east of India. It was part of India before 1947 and became an independent country in 1971.
Pakistan -: Pakistan is a neighboring country to the northwest of India. It was part of India before 1947 and became a separate country when India gained independence.
US -: The US stands for the United States of America, a large country in North America. It is one of the most powerful countries in the world.
European nations -: European nations are countries located in Europe, a continent to the west of Asia. Some well-known European countries are the UK, France, and Germany.
mutual interests -: Mutual interests are things that are good for both sides. For example, if two countries both want peace, that is a mutual interest.
political changes -: Political changes are changes in the way a country is run. This can include new leaders, new laws, or changes in government policies.
uninterrupted dialogue -: Uninterrupted dialogue means continuous talking or discussions without any breaks. In this context, it means India and Pakistan used to talk regularly without stopping.
