New Delhi: India has not shied away and taken a “clear stand” on some of the crucial geopolitical developments be it the Russia-Ukraine War or China’s military actions at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and Beijing’s promotion of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), according to External Affairs Minister. “We have taken a clear stand with the Ukraine issue … We have also taken a clear position when it came to our northern neighbours, vis-à-vis, China and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI),” Jaishankar said at a press conference on nine years of the Narendra Modi government.


India and China have been engaged in a military standoff at the LAC since April-May 2020 that also witnessed the killing of 20 Indian soldiers at Galwan by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA).


According to Jaishankar, in the past nine years, India has emerged as a “development partner” and that can be seen when India went forward to help Sri Lanka during its economic crisis “when most of the world was sitting on their hands.”


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“The world today largely sees India as a development partner, and more so in the neighbourhood,” he added.


Jaishankar also said that the Modi government was able to “delegitimise” terrorism emanating from Pakistan.


He also said since 2014 when the Modi government came to power there had been “strategic clarity” and “strategic communication”.


China Cannot Violate Agreements And Expect Us To Have Normal Neighbourly Relations: Jaishankar


According to Jaishankar, in the past nine years, India had opportunities as well as challenges in the neighbourhood.


“We have a challenge with the Pakistan. This is not a new issue. Cross-border terrorism had been a challenge since the beginning. And we are not going to tolerate it,” he said.


On the relationship with China, he said, Beijing is well aware of the fact that ties will move ahead “only” when there is peace and tranquility in the border areas.


“They cannot violate agreements and expect us to have normal neighbourly relations… We have to find a way in disengaging. They also know it’s not in their best interests. So we are communicating. Disengagement is a detailed process,” he said.


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