POBNEWS24, Dhaka, May 1, 2022 : India has adapted its Ukraine policy to national interests and energy security. India is aware of the rapidly changing international relations with Russia and China. India is paying special attention to its neighbors.
India’s outgoing Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Sringla made the remarks in an interview with the Times of India.
He retired on Saturday. The Indian government has appointed him as the chief convener of the G20 summit to be held in India next year.
Prior to his appointment as India’s Foreign Secretary, Harsh Vardhan Sringla served as High Commissioner to Bangladesh and Ambassador to the United States.
Schringler’s interview was published in the Times of India last Friday. In this interview, in response to various questions, he mainly shared his experience and observations of the last two years as Foreign Secretary. Sringla likened those two years to a ‘non-stop roller coaster’.
Asked if India was ready for the strengthening of strategic ties between Russia and China in the Ukraine crisis, Harsh Vardhan Sringla said they were aware of the rapidly changing international relations with Russia and China. India will continue to monitor the situation as it does to respond to this change. Will the new government in Pakistan improve India’s relations with the country? Asked if there could be a SAARC summit soon, Sringla said, “We have said many times that India wants good neighborly relations with Pakistan. India is committed to resolving any issues bilaterally and peacefully. ‘
Sringla added that a conducive environment is needed for any meaningful discussion. Pakistan is responsible for creating this environment. In a message to the country’s new Prime Minister, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India wants to establish a zone free of terrorism, stable and peaceful.
On the border dispute with China, Sringla said, “We have had to deal with an unprecedented situation on the Indian border with China. Efforts need to be made by the government to address this. ‘
Sringla also spoke about Bangladesh in the interview. “Neighboring countries are our primary diplomatic area,” he said. In light of my work experience in neighboring countries, I have paid special attention to our immediate neighbors. ‘
Harsh Vardhan Sringla said, “Usually Indian foreign secretaries visit Bhutan on their first visit. At that time our biggest challenge was to get acquainted with Afghanistan so I decided to make my first foreign trip to Afghanistan. ‘
Sringla said, “My visits to Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka গুরুত্বপূর্ণ all of these countries were important, to protect our national interests. Prioritizing neighbors in diplomatic efforts is a reflection of our ‘neighbor first’ policy. It has been a cornerstone of India’s foreign and security policy since 2014. This is the first and foremost priority of our foreign policy. ”
Asked about the impact of India’s stand on the Ukraine issue on its relationship with the United States, Sringla said India’s relationship with other countries is unique. India’s position on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine is consistent and coherent.
“We are deeply concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian situation there,” Sringla said. We call for an immediate end to all forms of violence and hostility. In a phone conversation with President Putin and President Zhelensky, we said that there was no alternative to a diplomatic solution and negotiations. ‘
“In our discussions with the United States and other major powers, we have emphasized respect for the existing world order and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries based on the United Nations Charter and international law,” said the outgoing Indian Foreign Secretary. ‘
“Less than 2 per cent of India’s total fuel oil imports come from Russia,” Sringla said. India’s national interest in ensuring our energy security as one of the world’s largest oil importers has played a role in India’s policy. ‘
