Jaishankar-Austin dialogue focuses on changing global scenario
By Anish Kumar | First Published Mar 20, 2021, 9:52 PM ISTJaishankar emphasised that a strong relationship between the two democracies was not only important for both countries but for the rest of the world.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of Defense Llyod Austin on Saturday discussed a range of issues ranging from Indo-Pacific to Afghanistan, India's current security challenges to changing global scenario and human rights to bilateral relations.
In the meeting, which lasted for an hour, the two ministers focused their discussions on the strategic situation in the Indo-Pacific.
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"Dr Jaishankar spoke about India's current security challenges and our long term strategic outlook. The conversation also covered changing global scenario, including Europe and West Asia," sources in the government establishment said.
During their meeting, the Afghanistan issue was also taken up.
"Assessments were exchanged on the peace process and the ground situation, as also the concerns and interests of regional powers and neighbours," they said.
Jaishankar hailed the newly-appointed Biden administration for engaging India on this issue.
The minister also apprised Austin about the progress and potential of various aspects of the leadership.
Highlighting the commonalities and convergence, Jaishankar said that the relationship was unique for the breadth and intensity of cooperation that covered so many domains.
Talking about human rights, the defence secretary said that "as the two largest democracies in the world, human rights and values are important to us and we will lead with these values".
Agreeing with his remark, Jaishankar emphasised that a strong relationship between the two democracies was not only important for both countries but for the rest of the world.
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