The External Affairs Ministry today said India is closely monitoring the situation between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Briefing the media in New Delhi this afternoon, Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said it is clear that Pakistan hosts terrorist organisations and sponsors terrorist activities. He said it is an old practice of Pakistan to blame its neighbours for its own internal failures.
The spokesperson said Pakistan is infuriated with Afghanistan exercising sovereignty over its own territories, and India remains fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Afghanistan.
The upgrade of the Indian Mission in Kabul, Mr Jaiswal said, India’s Technical Mission has been operational in Kabul since June 2022. He informed that its transition to an Embassy will happen in the next few days.
Replying to a query on the latest sanctions announced by the UK on Nayara, Mr Jaiswal stressed that the UK does not subscribe to any unilateral sanctions. He said India considers the provision of energy security a responsibility of paramount importance to meet the basic needs of its citizens.
He further stated that Indian companies source energy supplies from around the world while taking overall market conditions into account. He stressed that there should be no double standards, especially when it comes to energy trade.
On whether there was a conversation between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on oil imports, the spokesperson said he is not aware of any conversation between the two leaders yesterday.
Earlier today, the MEA spokesperson had said that the current US administration has shown interest in deepening energy cooperation with it, and discussions are ongoing. Replying to media queries on the country’s energy sourcing, External Affairs ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, said, India has for many years sought to expand its energy procurement, which has steadily progressed in the last decade.
The spokesperson elaborated that the country’s oil import policies are guided entirely by the objective to safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario. He said that ensuring stable energy prices and secured supplies have been the twin goals of the country’s energy policy. This includes broad-basing energy sourcing and diversifying as appropriate to meet market conditions.
