External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump's accusation that India demanded "billions and billions" for the Green Climate Fund, a United Nations program, at the annual press conference of the External Affairs Ministry.
She reiterated that India was duty-bound to keep its commitments, and would do so irrespective of whether the United States remained a signatory to the Paris accord. Mr. Trump had earlier taken the decision to pull the United States out of the accord.
However, Ms. Swaraj was insisted that discontent was not brewing in bilateral ties with the US, and said that the mutually beneficial relationship based on trust was bound to get stronger.
The External Affairs Ministry played down reports that the cap on H1B visas was set to be lowered, and highlighted that no such move had been undertaken till date. However, Ms. Swaraj said that such a move, if implemented, could be detrimental to the fortunes of Indian software companies. She added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would take up the issue with his American counterpart during his visit to the United States.
The proposed change in H1B visa norms had raised eyebrows in India since the country's services sector, which accounts for the lion's share of such applications, was targeted by Mr. Trump during his presidential campaign for being responsible for taking away American jobs.
Ms. Swaraj also said that the Modi government had proved its detractors wrong on relations with West Asian countries which were predominantly Muslim. "Our best ties are with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)," she said.
The Minister also drew attention to how India maintained a policy of equidistance on Israel and Palestine. "We will build ties with Israel, but keep our ties with Palestine too. The Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas visited New Delhi, and PM Modi is going to Israel," she said.
She also emphasised that India did not seek to counter the Chinese-led One Belt One Road (OBOR) project, and added that India has had many connectivity projects prior to the conception of OBOR. India was conspicuous by its absence at the unveiling of the OBOR in Beijing last month.
However, she de-linked the no-show at the OBOR summit from China's objection to India's membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). The Minister poured cold water on reports that India was putting pressure on Russia to convince its all-weather ally, China, to withdraw its veto on India's membership in the NSG. "India's criteria was proved in 2008 waiver, it's credentials are also solid," she added.
Ms. Swaraj also commented that her Ministry spent less time on Pakistan than the Indian media does. On bilateral talks she said: "PM Modi went to Lahore on the invitation of Nawaz Sharif but got Pathankot in return. Even the investigations haven't gone anywhere. There is no plan for a Modi-Sharif meeting in Astana this week, from either side."
India had raised the issue of Kulbushan Jadhav at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) after a military court in Pakistan had sentenced him to death over allegations of spying. Ms. Swaraj said that Pakistan was not in a position to internationalise the Kashmir issue by taking it to the ICJ since they are bound by Shimla and Lahore agreements.
On the recent decision by the Saudi coalition decision to cut off ties with Qatar, Ms. Swaraj said that it was an internal matter of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
"Our only concern is impact on Indian labourers. We are monitoring the situation," she said.
(With inputs from Suhasini Haider)
