EAM Jaishankar discussed Afghanistan, Indo-Pacific issues with US Defence Secretary

New Delhi: US Defence Secretary Llyod Austin met with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Saturday (March 20) throughout his three-day go to to India. Afghanistan and the scenario within the Indo Pacific area have been the important thing matters of discussions through the talks.

The one-hour lengthy talks included discussions across the present strategic scenario within the Indo Pacific area and the EAM’s briefing about India’s “current security challenges and our long term strategic outlook”, sources mentioned.

US Defense Secretary Llyod Austin additionally briefed Jaishankar about his go to to Japan and South Korea. Austin is on his maiden go to as Defence Secretary to Asia, with India being the ultimate cease throughout it. His go to is available in mild of the quad-India, Australia, Japan and US management digital meet and elevated New Delhi-Washington engagement.

While speaking about Afghanistan, the continuing peace course of was discussed together with an evaluation of the scenario on the bottom. EAM Jaishankar appreciated the Biden Administration’s engagement with India on this subject. 

Earlier, the US had proposed to carry talks with the Afghan authorities. Six international locations, together with India, will take part within the talks to carry peace and stability in Afghanistan. The go to of the US Defence Secretary can be adopted by the go to of the Afghan Foreign Minister Haneef Atmar to India.

During the meet, highlighting the commonalities and convergence, EAM Jaishankar mentioned that the India-US relationship was distinctive for the breadth and depth of cooperation that coated so many domains. 

While defence engagement has elevated with Washington authorizing over 20 billion {dollars} in defence gross sales to India, folks to folks relations kind the bedrock of this partnership. 

The subject of human rights additionally got here up through the assembly. The US Defence Secretary mentioned “the 2 largest democracies on the planet, human rights and values, are necessary to us and we’ll lead with these values.” 

Jaishankar agreed and emphasised {that a} robust relationship between the 2 democracies was not solely necessary for each international locations however for the remainder of the world.

Ahead of the go to, chairman of the US Senate overseas relations committee Senator Robert Menendez known as for the US defence secretary to boost the problem of human rights.