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الوسم: diplomatic visit

  • Afghanistan Seeks Indian Investment Amid Taliban Minister’s Delhi Visit

    Afghanistan Seeks Indian Investment Amid Taliban Minister’s Delhi Visit

    Afghanistan’s Taliban commerce minister, Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi, arrived in India on Wednesday, marking his first official visit aimed at boosting investment and trade. The visit comes as both nations explore ways to strengthen their relationship amid worsening tensions with neighboring Pakistan.

    India recently improved its relationship with the Taliban by reopening its embassy in Kabul, which had been closed after the group took control in 2021 following the withdrawal of US-led NATO forces. Meanwhile, New Delhi is increasing aid to Afghanistan to vie for influence against China’s expanding presence.

    According to Afghanistan’s commerce ministry, Azizi will meet with his Indian counterpart, the foreign minister, as well as local traders and investors. The ministry released a statement saying, “These discussions will prioritize expanding economic cooperation, facilitating trade, exploring joint investment opportunities, and enhancing Afghanistan’s role in regional transit routes.”

    Landlocked Afghanistan is eager to regain access to essentials like grains, medicines, and industrial goods, especially after its border with Pakistan was recently closed following deadly clashes between the two countries last month.

    India manages operations at Iran’s Chabahar port, which has land links to Afghanistan. Last month, the US granted a six-month sanctions exemption to India, allowing continued use of the port and reducing Kabul’s dependency on the Karachi port. Over the past six months, Afghanistan’s trade via Iran has topped $1.6 billion, surpassing the $1.1 billion handled through Pakistan, according to Afghanistan’s commerce ministry.

    “The focus of this visit is to advance trade and investment ties between the two countries,” said Randhir Jaiswal, India’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, on X (formerly Twitter), alongside a photo of Azizi’s arrival in Delhi.

    While India and Afghanistan generally enjoy friendly relations, India has not recognized the current Taliban government, given its previous experience with different regimes. Experts suggest that New Delhi and Kabul are recalibrating their diplomatic efforts due to escalating issues with Islamabad.

  • China urges India to see bilateral relations as partnership, not rivalry

    China urges India to see bilateral relations as partnership, not rivalry

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (left) with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. — X@DrSJaishankar/File

    • The foreign ministers of China and India discuss border peace and trade initiatives aimed at strengthening their relationship.

    • Wang Yi mentions that dialogue with India has been gradually re-established.

    • Wang arrived in Delhi on Monday for a two-day diplomatic visit.

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    BEIJING/NEW DELHI: According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, China and India should develop a “correct strategic understanding” and view each other as partners rather than rivals.

    China is prepared to promote principles of friendship and mutual benefit in its interactions with India, as highlighted in the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s statement following ministers’ talks in New Delhi.

    During their meeting, Wang Yi and Subrahmanyam Jaishankar addressed issues including border stability, trade, and bilateral exchanges, with a focus on enhancing cooperation between the two nations.

    “We had constructive discussions covering our economic and trade relations, pilgrimages, cultural exchanges, river data sharing, border trade, connectivity, and people-to-people contacts,” Jaishankar noted.

    He emphasized that these talks will help foster a stable, cooperative, and forward-looking relationship between India and China.

    Wang Yi stated that exchanges and dialogue at all levels have been steadily restored, signaling a return to cooperative relations, as per Chinese reports.

    Wang also called on both countries — as major global players — to set an example for other developing nations by uniting and strengthening their positions, according to the official statement.

    He urged that China and India should cultivate a “correct strategic understanding,” treating each other as partners and opportunities rather than threats or competitors.

    Wang arrived in India’s capital on Monday for a two-day visit, during which he plans to hold the 24th round of border talks with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    Earlier, Jaishankar highlighted the significance of discussing border issues, noting that maintaining peace along the disputed Himalayan border is fundamental for positive bilateral momentum.

    “Our relationship has faced some challenging periods, but now both countries are looking to move forward through honest and constructive dialogue,” Jaishankar told Wang in his opening remarks.

    He also stressed the importance of troop de-escalation along the contested border since the deadly clash in 2020.

    Wang’s visit precedes Modi’s upcoming trip to China — his first in seven years — to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, which includes Russia as a member.

    Relations between the two Asian giants started to improve in October after they agreed on a milestone pact to reduce military tensions in their Himalayan border regions, following talks between President Xi Jinping and Modi in Russia.

    Tensions escalated significantly after a military skirmish in summer 2020 that resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers.