NEW DELHI: As S Jaishankar prepares to assume office for a second term as the External Affairs Minister (EAM), he emphasized on Tuesday that the third term of the PM Modi-led NDA government will focus on resolving border issues with China and addressing long-standing cross-border terrorism with Pakistan.
“In any country, especially in a democracy, it is a significant achievement for a government to be elected three times in a row. This political stability in India will certainly be noticed by the world,” EAM Jaishankar stated.
“As far as Pakistan and China are concerned, the relations with those countries are different, and the problems there are also different. Our focus concerning China will be on finding a solution for the border issues, and with Pakistan, we would want to find a solution to the issue of years-old cross-border terrorism,” S Jaishankar added.
He added that the third term of the Modi-led NDA government will position India as ‘Vishwa Bandhu’ (a global friend) in a turbulent and divided world.
“Together, we are confident that we will position ourselves as a trusted country in a world of conflicts and tensions, advancing our prestige, influence, and interests,” he remarked.
Reflecting on the previous term, Jaishankar commended the Ministry of External Affairs for its exceptional performance under PM Modi’s leadership, especially in handling challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and operations like Ganga and Kaveri.
“It is an immense honor to be responsible for leading the Ministry of External Affairs again. We delivered the G20 presidency, tackled COVID-19 challenges, including Vaccine Maitri supplies, and led crucial operations like Operation Ganga and Operation Kaveri,” he said.
He also noted the ministry’s transformation into a people-centric entity, highlighting improved passport services and community welfare fund support for Indians abroad.
Jaishankar, a Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat, joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1977. He served as India’s foreign secretary during Modi’s first tenure (2015-18) and held ambassadorial positions in the United States (2013-15), China (2009-2013), and the Czech Republic (2000-2004). He was India’s high commissioner to Singapore (2007-2009) and had various diplomatic assignments in Moscow, Colombo, Budapest, Tokyo, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the President’s Secretariat.
