Ministry of External Affairs

July 2, 2024 5:12 PM

India, Belarus hold first-ever Consular Dialogue in Minsk

On June 28, India and Belarus conducted their first-ever Consular Dialogue in Minsk, marking a significant step in bilateral relations. The meeting focused on a wide range of consular issues, including the welfare of Indian students in Belarus and efforts to boost tourism between the two nations. The Indian delegation was led by Dr. Aman Puri, Joint Secretary (Consular, Passport and Visa Division) while the Belarusian delegation was led by Andrei Kozhan, Head of General Directorate for Consular...

July 1, 2024 4:23 PM

India, Pakistan exchange list of civilian prisoners, fishermen

India and Pakistan conducted their biannual exchange of lists detailing civilian prisoners and fishermen held in each other's custody on Monday, as confirmed by India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). This exchange, mandated by the 2008 bilateral Agreement on Consular Access, occurs every January 1 and July 1. India reported 366 civilian prisoners and 86 fishermen in its custody, while Pakistan listed 43 civilian prisoners and 211 fishermen believed to be Indian nationals. "The Government ...

June 28, 2024 10:01 PM

India rejects “deeply biased” US report on international religious freedom

The Indian government has strongly rejected the U.S. State Department's 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom, describing it as "deeply biased" and lacking in understanding of India's social dynamics. In a statement delivered during a weekly briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal criticized the report, saying, "As in the past, the report is deeply biased, lacks an understanding of India's social fabric, and is visibly driven by votebank consi...

June 28, 2024 8:51 PM

EAM Jaishankar to lead Indian delegation at SCO summit in Kazakhstan

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will head the country's delegation at the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Friday. The summit is scheduled for July 3-4 in Astana, Kazakhstan's capital city. MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed during a weekly briefing, "The External Affairs Minister will be leading our delegation there." Kazakhstan has assumed the SCO presidency from India, which held the position ...

June 28, 2024 7:04 PM

Vikram Misri appointed India’s new Foreign Secretary

The Indian government has announced the appointment of Vikram Misri as the country's new Foreign Secretary. Misri, a 1989-batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service, will succeed Vinay Mohan Kwatra in this crucial diplomatic role. The Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) approved the proposal put forward by the Ministry of External Affairs for Misri's appointment. Currently serving as the Deputy National Security Adviser, Misri will assume his new position on July 15, 2024, following the en...

June 17, 2024 10:27 AM

India Participates in the Summit on Peace in Ukraine

Pavan Kapoor, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, represented India at the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, held on June 15-16, 2024. The summit, hosted by Switzerland, brought together various international stakeholders to discuss pathways to peace in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The Indian delegation actively participated in both the Opening and Closing Plenary Sessions of the Summit. However, India did not align itself with any communique or document that emerged from the ev...

May 22, 2024 8:52 AM

Vice President Dhankhar embarks to Tehran for Iranian President Raisi’s funeral

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday morning departed for Tehran to attend the funeral of late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, his foreign minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and other officials who were killed in a helicopter crash, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. "VP Jagdeep Dhankhar embarks on a visit to Tehran to attend the official ceremony to pay condolences on the tragic demise of President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister H. Amir-Abdollahian, of Iran," said ...

April 26, 2024 1:02 PM

10 Indian nationals working in Russian Army have returned, says MEA

In a significant development, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) revealed on Thursday that 10 Indian nationals who were working as support staff in the Russian Army have returned to India. During the weekly press briefing, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the Indian government is actively pursuing the matter at various levels, and the Russian side has assured that the remaining Indians will also be released. Addressing the weekly press conference, Jaiswal said, "As far as the q...

April 18, 2024 10:39 PM

‘Not detained, all of them are free to go’: Iran envoy on Indians onboard ship seized by Tehran

Iran's ambassador to India, Iraj Elahi, has reassured that the Indian crew members of the MSC Aries, a container vessel seized by Iran, are not being detained and are free to leave. This statement follows the return of Ann Tessa Joseph, a woman cadet from Thrissur, Kerala, who was among the 17 Indian crew members aboard the ship. Joseph safely arrived at Cochin International Airport and was received by local authorities. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the safe ret...

April 10, 2024 8:54 AM

India and Kazakhstan assess security challenges, exchange views on cross-border terrorism in South Asia

India and Kazakhstan, during a joint working group meeting, assessed counter-terrorism challenges, and also exchanged views on cross-border terrorism in South Asia, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a release. During the meeting that took place in Astana, both sides exchanged views on the terrorist threats in their respective regions, including State-sponsored, cross-border terrorism in South Asia, besides terror activities in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region. The Indian delegation was l...