New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is on his maiden visit to Egypt, on Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has very good personal relation with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and has been wanting to visit the country, however the Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted the travel schedule. Jaishankar made the remarks in response to a question during his interaction with the Indian community in Cairo.
Asked when he would advise PM Modi to visit Egypt, Jaishankar, as quoted by news agency PTI, said, “He doesn't need my advice (to travel to Cairo). The Prime Minister has a very good personal relationship with President Sisi. I know that he has been wanting to visit (Egypt) for some time. It is one of those situations, partly Covid, that has disrupted the travel schedule. But I can assure you it's very much on his mind.”
"From my side, he will (the prime minister) only get further motivation (to visit Egypt),” Jaishankar added.
It is to be noted that the last prime ministerial visit to the key north African country from India took place in 2009 when Dr. Manmohan Singh visited Cairo for the Non-Aligned Summit, as per the Indian Embassy website.
In a meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry, EAM Jaishankar said "as states active in shaping global debates, discussed developments in our regions and exchanged views on Ukraine conflict and Indo-Pacific. A polarized world needs independent thinking and voices of reason."
In response to another question on his assertive diplomacy, the minister said that he doesn't think he is being assertive, but it's because of the situations.
"I still believe that at the end of the day it's important to explain yourself...at times there is a lack of fairness in which your position is portrayed. I don't think we should let that pass. We are not doing justice to ourselves if we do that," he said.