External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on July 28 held "wide-ranging" talks with his American counterpart Antony Blinken against the backdrop of an unease in India-U.S. ties following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Russia three weeks back.
Both Mr. Jaishankar and Mr. Blinken are in Tokyo to attend a meeting of Foreign Ministers of the four-nation grouping Quad or Quadrilateral coalition.
The talks between the External Affairs Minister and the U.S. Secretary of State also came amid Washington consistently seeking accountability from New Delhi in the case relating to the alleged foiled plot to kill Sikh extremist Gurupatwant Singh Pannun in New York.
It is not immediately clear whether Mr. Modi's visit to Russia and the murder-for-hire plot figured in the Jaishankar-Blinken talks.
In a post on 'X', Mr. Jaishankar said he and Mr. Blinken had a wide-ranging discussion on regional and global issues. "Great to catch up with @SecBlinken in Tokyo today," he said.
"Our bilateral agenda progresses steadily. Also had a wide ranging discussion on regional and global issues," Mr. Jaishankar added.
It is learnt that the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the overall situation in Gaza figured in the talks.
The U.S. and several of its allies were outraged over the timing of Mr. Modi's July 8 to 9 visit to Moscow as it coincided with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) summit in Washington. Some Western capitals were also learnt to be peeved over Mr. Modi choosing Russia for his first bilateral trip in his third term.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu told a U.S. Congressional hearing on Tuesday that the U.S. was disappointed by the "symbolism" and "timing" of Mr. Modi's visit to Russia.
New Delhi on Thursday rejected Mr. Lu's comments and asserted that all countries have the "freedom of choice" in a multipolar world and everyone should be mindful of such realities.
Meanwhile, India and Ukraine are planning a visit to Kyiv by the Indian Prime Minister next month.
The India-U.S. ties also came under some unease following the alleged murder-for-hire plot.
In November last year, U.S. federal prosecutors charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta of working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Pannun in New York.
Pannun, wanted in India on terror charges, holds dual citizenship of the U.S. and Canada.
Mr. Gupta, who was arrested in the Czech Republic in June last year, was extradited to the U.S. last month.
Following the allegations by the U.S., India appointed a high-level inquiry committee to look into the inputs provided by the U.S. on the plot.
In April, The Washington Post named an Indian official for the alleged plot.
Published - July 28, 2024 12:25 pm IST
