India Strongly Supports Efforts Towards Early Ceasefire: Jaishankar Discusses Sudan Situation With UN Chief

New Delhi is keeping a close watch on the developments in Sudan besides being in touch with relevant countries, as per the External Affairs Ministry.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussed the worsening situation in Sudan with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres today.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussed the worsening situation in Sudan with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and highlighted the need for “successful diplomacy” that can lead to an early ceasefire and create the ground situation for the safety in the strife-torn African nation. Jaishankar, who met Guterres at the UN headquarters on Thursday, also discussed other issues, including India's presidency of the G20 and the Ukraine conflict.

"Good to meet UN Secretary-General @antonioguterres in New York today afternoon. Discussed the current developments in Sudan, G20 Presidency and Ukraine,” he tweeted.

“Focus understandably was on Sudan. India strongly supports efforts towards an early ceasefire, leading to creation of safe corridors. Will continue to work closely with the UN and other partners in this regard,” he added.

Focus understandably was on Sudan. India strongly supports efforts towards an early ceasefire, leading to creation of safe corridors. Will continue to work closely with UN and other partners in this regard.

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 20, 2023

Over 300 People Dead In Sudan Conflict

More than 300 people, including an Indian national, have been killed since intense fighting erupted in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum and elsewhere in the country on Saturday.

The conflict is a direct result of a vicious power struggle within the country’s military leadership. The clashes are between Sudan’s regular army and a paramilitary force called the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

India on Thursday said the situation in Sudan is "very tense" and is focusing on ensuring the safety and well-being of the Indian community, including working on contingency plans and possible evacuation.

New Delhi is keeping a close watch on the developments in Sudan besides being in touch with relevant countries, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing and added that any evacuation plan will depend on the ground situation.

"We are in readiness of taking multiple options. There are contingency plans. We are in close touch with our teams on the ground. But it will all depend on how long there is a pause in the fighting or a ceasefire; where it is happening, what is available in terms of locations where we can safely take people away," he said in New Delhi.

In Sudan, The UN Is At “The Heart Of The Efforts” To Establish A Ceasefire: Jaishankar

Jaishankar is embarking on a nine-day trip to Guyana, Panama, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic beginning on Friday, his first visit as the external affairs minister to these Latin American countries and the Caribbean.

Before his trip to Latin America, he arrived in New York.

According to news agency PTI's report, the External Affair Minister said while his trip to South America was planned quite a while ago, he "came here to the UN mainly because once the fighting started (in Sudan) on the 14th (of April), you could immediately see that this was very serious and a lot of people were trapped by the situation.”

“We knew that the UN itself has a large presence in Sudan. This will be the centre. Because at this moment, what is needed is diplomacy, successful diplomacy because it's only diplomacy which can create the ground situation for the safety and welfare of the people out there,” Jaishankar told a small group of journalists here after his meeting with Guterres, as per PTI.

Noting that he had a “very good meeting” with Guterres, Jaishankar said once the fighting in Sudan started out, “I felt that it was very important” that he met the UN Secretary-General Guterres.

"Most of our meeting was on the Sudan situation. We also of course discussed the G20 and we also spent some time on the Ukraine conflict. But essentially it was about the Sudan” situation, he said.

Jaishankar said that in Sudan, the UN is at “the heart of the efforts” to establish a ceasefire.

“And that is really key because at the moment, unless there is a ceasefire and unless there are corridors, it is not safe for people to really come out," he said.

“The UN is doing its bit talking to everybody. We of course have obviously very strong interest in the matter because so many Indians are there,” Jaishankar added.

Jaishankar said New Delhi is in touch with several countries and he has spoken to Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Faisal bin Farhan and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

“We have been in touch with the Americans, I have also been in touch with my British counterpart,” he said.

Jaishankar said there have been earlier attempts at a ceasefire that did not hold.

“What he (UN SG) said to me was encouraging in respect of the people who are trapped right now because…as he said that it is more important than ever before that this ceasefire holds. We hope so too,” he added.