External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar yet again showed his witty side when he was asked to choose between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un or billionaire philanthropist George Soros to have dinner with.
During an event by Pratidin Media Network in New Delhi, Jaishankar was asked about his preference to have dinner with North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un or billionaire philanthropist George Soros.
Jaishankar effectively stepped aside from the politically charged question saying: "I think this is Navratri, and I am fasting."
The question carried more importance because the Bharatiya Janata Party has repeatedly accused Congress of having ties with Soros and alleging that he has been funding campaigns to undermine India's current government. Soros' criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi had further stoked tensions.
The question also presents a stark contrast as Soros is known for his pro-democracy advocacy while Kim Jong-un is the North Korean monarch who has become a figure of global tension due to Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions.
However, Jaishankar effectively managed to answer the question with grace testifying his ability to manage India's diplomatic relationships. On the global stage, India continues to balance relations with diverse global actors.
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The EAM will visit Pakistan this month to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's (SCO) conclave. However, the two sides will not hold bilateral talks, he clarified on Saturday. "It (visit) will be for a multilateral event. I'm not going there to discuss India-Pakistan relations. I'm going there to be a good member of the SCO," he said.
The visit by Jaishankar will be the first by India's external minister in the last nine years despite prickly relations with the neighbouring countries over cross-border terrorism.