S Jaishankar and Antony Blinken didn’t take any questions from the media (AFP)
Washington:
Exterior Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington and mentioned methods to additional the bilateral ties, amid the diplomatic row between India and Canada over the killing of a Khalistani separatist.
#WATCH | Washington, DC: EAM Dr S Jaishankar meets US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. pic.twitter.com/HC7LCUkRSD
— ANI (@ANI) September 28, 2023
“Good to be again right here. And we, in fact, had the prime minister right here this summer season. Because of the US for all of the assist to the G20 Summit,” S Jaishankar stated whereas showing earlier than the media together with Blinken forward of the assembly held on the State Division.
Blinken stated he had “superb discussions” over the previous couple of weeks together with on the G20 and on the margins of the UN Common Meeting session in New York. He stated he was trying ahead to his discussions with the Indian counterpart.
The 2 leaders didn’t take any questions from the media.
Though officers from each side are tightlipped in regards to the agenda of the assembly, the most recent diplomatic disaster between two of America’s pals is anticipated to come back up prominently through the talks.
“I do not need to preview the conversations he (Antony Blinken) can have in that assembly (with S Jaishankar), however as we have made clear, we have raised this. We’ve engaged with our Indian counterparts on this and inspired them to cooperate with the Canadian investigation, and we proceed to encourage them to cooperate,” State Division Spokesperson Matthew Miller advised earlier reporters whereas responding to questions on Wednesday.
Whereas the assembly between the 2 prime diplomats was scheduled a lot earlier than the Canadian disaster broke out, the US has been urging India to cooperate within the Canadian investigation into the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia early this 12 months.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has alleged that the Indian authorities was behind the killing of Hardeep Nijjar on June 18. India, which designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020, has rejected the allegations as “absurd” and “motivated”.
S Jaishankar, who arrived in Washington from New York on Wednesday after addressing the 78th Common Meeting session of the United Nations on Tuesday, earlier within the day met US Nationwide Safety Advisor Jake Sullivan and mentioned the progress in bilateral relations between the 2 international locations and methods to take it ahead. He additionally met US Commerce Consultant Katherine Tie.
“Started my Washington DC go to with a gathering with NSA @JakeSullivan46. Recognised the great progress in our bilateral relationship this 12 months and mentioned taking it ahead,” S Jaishankar stated in a put up on X.
He additionally met US Commerce Consultant Katherine Tie and mentioned the rising financial ties between Washington and New Delhi.
“Good to see with US Commerce Consultant @AmbassadorTai. Spoke about our increasing commerce and financial relationship and its broader significance,” the minister stated in a put up on X.
Throughout his keep in Washington, the exterior affairs minister is anticipated to have a collection of conferences with senior officers of the Biden administration, overview the progress made between the 2 international locations after the historic State Go to of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June and speak about different regional and international points.
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