Latest news with #NeighbourhoodFirst
India Gazette
11-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Sri Lanka Army Chief pays tribute at War Memorial, reviews Guard of Honour in Delhi
New Delhi [India], June 11 (ANI): Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo, Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, paid tribute to Indian soldiers at the National War Memorial in New Delhi and reviewed a ceremonial Guard of Honour at South Block, reflecting the strong defence ties between India and Sri Lanka. Taking to X, ADG PI - Indian Army stated, 'Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo, Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, in a solemn ceremony, paid tributes to the #Bravehearts by laying a wreath at National War Memorial #NWM, #NewDelhi. He also reviewed an impressive Guard of Honour at the #SouthBlock.' The post added, 'The ceremonies reflected the shared military ethos and camaraderie between the two nations, underscoring the strong and enduring defence ties between India and Sri Lanka.' Reinforcing these strong bilateral relations, last month, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with a delegation of parliamentary colleagues from Sri Lanka who were visiting India for the PRIDE Capacity Building Program. He appreciated their condemnation of terrorism and their expressions of sympathy regarding the Pahalgam attack, highlighting the growing mutual trust and cooperation beyond military engagement. He also discussed India's Neighbourhood First policy, emphasising the importance of strong people-to-people ties in fostering regional cooperation and development. Jaishankar reiterated India's commitment to supporting Sri Lanka's development and progress, underscoring the close and friendly relations between the two countries. In a post shared on X, Jaishankar said, 'Had a warm interaction with parliamentary colleagues from Sri Lanka visiting India for the PRIDE Capacity Building Program. Appreciate their condemnation of terrorism and expressions of sympathy on the Pahalgam attack. Discussed our Neighbourhood First policy, underpinned by strong people to people ties. Reiterated our commitment to Sri Lanka's development and progress.' The interaction comes amid a broader diplomatic outreach by India in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor - a military operation launched on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 Indian civilians. The attack was carried out by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists. As part of its response, India targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of over 100 terrorists affiliated with groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. India and Sri Lanka share a longstanding bond rooted in over 2,500 years of civilisational ties. Sri Lanka holds a central place in India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and the MAHASAGAR vision - Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. This deep historical and cultural connection has evolved into a multifaceted bilateral partnership covering a wide array of sectors. As part of India's capacity-building efforts, nearly 710 scholarships are offered annually to Sri Lankan students. Under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Program, 402 fully-funded training slots are provided to officials and eligible citizens. A Cooperation Agreement also enables the training of 1,500 Sri Lankan civil servants over five years at the National Centre for Good Governance - with four batches trained in 2024 alone. Further cooperation in 2024 included a special course for 23 Sri Lankan diplomats and officials at SSIFS and training for over 2,000 plantation school teachers in STEM subjects between August and October. Technical expertise is also extended through Indian institutions under the 'Study in India' Program. (ANI)
Time of India
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Ties warmer, PM Modi may make 1st Maldives trip of Muizzu era
Ties warmer, PM Modi may make 1st Maldives trip of Muizzu era NEW DELHI: India is favourably considering an invitation by the Maldives for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the strategically important Indian Ocean country in July, TOI has learnt. This follows a strong reiteration of President Mohamed Muizzu's 2024 invitation to Modi by Maldives foreign minister Abdulla Khaleel during his visit to India last week. While it's too early to talk about the programme or agenda, it is learnt that one of the dates being considered for Modi's visit to the archipelago is July 26, the Maldives Independence Day. If it happens, it will be the first visit by Modi to the country since Muizzu assumed office in November 2023. Khaleel was in India last week for the third time this year, signalling an intent on the part of the Maldives to deepen ties with India amid concerns both here and in the West about its ties with China. Along with his counterpart S Jaishankar, Khaleel reviewed bilateral cooperation in a range of areas, including the development partnership, defence and security, and trade and investment. Jaishankar said after the meeting that India remained committed to Maldives's progress and development. He also thanked Khaleel for the solidarity with India on the issue of terrorism. Muizzu has continued to strongly maintain that the Maldives will not do anything to hurt India's security interests and that his decision to force Indian military personnel out of the country was based purely on the Maldivian people's desire for independence and non-interference in internal affairs. In an interview to Ceylon Today last week, the president said the Maldives will not allow its geographical location to be misused by any country for deliberate attempts that undermine peace and stability in the Indian Ocean region. "Our approach will always be for regional peace and sovereignty, and fair diplomacy with everyone," he said. India sees Maldives as a key maritime neighbour and an important partner in its Neighbourhood First policy and Vision Mahasagar (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions). According to the Indian external affairs ministry, the visit was aimed at strengthening the Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership between the two countries. As Prime Minister Modi and Muizzu had said in a joint statement after the latter's visit to India in October 2024, this partnership will be people-centric, future-oriented and will act as an anchor of stability in the Indian Ocean region. Among the big takeaways from that visit was a significant decision to initiate discussions on a Bilateral Free Trade Agreement focusing on trade in goods and services between the two countries.
Hindustan Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
The northeast region's place in India's Indo-Pacific vision
India's northeast region (NER) features prominently in its Indo-Pacific vision and strategic calculations. The vast natural resources of NER and its geographical proximity to neighbouring countries in the Indo-Pacific region make it attractive for increased involvement of industry and the development of trade linkages. Socio-cultural affinities found across the borders of the region also carry potential for synergy in cooperation endeavours. This brief assesses the factors that can lend traction to the potential of the region. It explores the role which NER can play in furthering India's flagship policies such as 'Act East' and 'Neighbourhood First'. The brief argues for a nuanced foreign policy strategy that takes cognisance of the dynamics unique to the region. India's NER occupies a prominent place in its vision of diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific. The region has vast natural resources, and thereby great potential for increased industry and trade with the Indo-Pacific, since it is physically closer to the latter and has greater socio-cultural links with it than the rest of the country. This brief looks at how the potential can be realised, and the role the northeast plays in furthering India's flagship policies such as 'Act East' and 'Neighbourhood First'. It will examine the extent to which the northeast can attract foreign direct investment (FDI), boosting internal development and making it a growth hub. However, the brief also notes, achieving the northeast's potential is contingent upon the region—which has a troubled history—maintaining peace and stability, as well as on a more nuanced Indian foreign policy strategy. It cannot be assumed that the northeast can be pivotal to India's Indo-Pacific policy simply based on its potential. Foreign-policymakers must take cognisance of local resistance to development projects, as well as suspicions of the Centre's mainstreaming designs. India must reorient its approach to link domestic-focused bureaucratic structures with those involved with foreign policy, so that they jointly approach the northeast in a more sensitive manner. The northeast is India's domestic responsibility as well as its foreign policy asset. Both regional sentiment and industrial potential should get equal attention. This paper can be accessed here. This paper is authored by Sreya Maitra, ORF, New Delhi.
India Gazette
27-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
EAM Jaishankar appreciates Sri Lankan parliamentarians' condemnation of terrorism, discuss India's Neighbourhood First policy
New Delhi [India], May 27 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday met with a delegation of parliamentary colleagues from Sri Lanka who were visiting India for the PRIDE Capacity Building Program and appreciated their condemnation of terrorism and their expressions of sympathy regarding the Pahalgam attack. He also discussed India's Neighbourhood First policy, emphasising the importance of strong people-to-people ties in fostering regional cooperation and development. Jaishankar reiterated India's commitment to supporting Sri Lanka's development and progress, underscoring the close and friendly relations between the two countries. In a post shared on X, Jaishankar said, 'Had a warm interaction with parliamentary colleagues from Sri Lanka visiting India for the PRIDE Capacity Building Program. Appreciate their condemnation of terrorism and expressions of sympathy on the Pahalgam attack. Discussed our Neighbourhood First policy, underpinned by strong people to people ties. Reiterated our commitment to Sri Lanka's development and progress.' The interaction comes amid a broader diplomatic outreach by India in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor - a military operation launched on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 Indian civilians. The attack was carried out by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists. As part of its response, India targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of over 100 terrorists affiliated with groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. India and Sri Lanka share a longstanding bond rooted in over 2,500 years of civilisational ties. Sri Lanka holds a central place in India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and the MAHASAGAR vision - Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. This deep historical and cultural connection has evolved into a multifaceted bilateral partnership covering a wide array of sectors. As part of India's capacity-building efforts, nearly 710 scholarships are offered annually to Sri Lankan students. Under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Program, 402 fully-funded training slots are provided to officials and eligible citizens. A Cooperation Agreement also enables the training of 1,500 Sri Lankan civil servants over five years at the National Centre for Good Governance - with four batches trained in 2024 alone. Further cooperation in 2024 included a special course for 23 Sri Lankan diplomats and officials at SSIFS and training for over 2,000 plantation school teachers in STEM subjects between August and October. Technical expertise is also extended through Indian institutions under the 'Study in India' Program. (ANI)
The Print
05-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Lucknow: UP CM Yogi Adityanath meets Nepal's Sudurpashchim Province CM Kamal Bahadur Shah
Sharing the details of the meeting in a post on the social media platform X, the UP CM said, 'Today, Honourable Chief Minister of Sudurpaschim Province, Nepal, Shri Kamal Bahadur Shah ji and the delegation led by him made a courtesy visit to the Government residence in Lucknow.' Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 5 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday met with Kamal Bahadur Shah, Chief Minister of Nepal's Sudurpashchim Province, who was accompanied by a delegation during their courtesy visit to Lucknow. Earlier, a ten-member delegation from the province, led by Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah, met Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at his official residence on Saturday. Officials said the meeting focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation and enhancing ties between the neighbouring regions. Speaking on the occasion, CM Dhami emphasised the shared cultural and historical heritage between India and Nepal. 'There is a deep similarity between the people of India and Nepal from cultural, religious and social point of view. There are many similarities in the traditions, customs, language, food and lifestyle of both the countries, which have been strengthening mutual bonding and trust over the years,' he said. On May 1, Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, met a Nepali delegation led by Kamal Bahadur Shah, Chief Minister of Nepal's Sudurpaschim Province, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement on Thursday. During the interaction with the delegation, MoS Singh affirmed the age-old and unique relationship between India and Nepal firmly rooted in deep people to people links. Mos also highlighted recent progress in bilateral relations and discussed opportunities for fostering greater links between India and the Sudurpaschim region of Nepal through connectivity, energy, tourism and agriculture, the MEA said. According to the MEA, the delegation led by Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah is on an official visit to India from April 29 to May 5. The MEA underscored that Nepal is a priority partner for India under its Neighbourhood First policy. The visit of the delegation led by the Chief Minister of Sudurpaschim underscores the sustained momentum in the bilateral ties between India and Nepal. (ANI) This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
