S Jaishankar assumes charge as India's EAM, says country's influence 'steadily growing'

On Tuesday morning (June 11), Dr S Jaishankar reached India's Ministry of External Affairs and assumed charge as the External Affairs Minister. He was welcomed by Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, Secretary (West) Pavan Kapoor and Secretary (East) Jaideep Mazumdar.

Assumed charge as the Minister of External Affairs.

Thank PM @narendramodi for assigning me this responsibility. pic.twitter.com/XVgHgV3kJ4 — Dr. S. Jaishankar (Modi Ka Parivar) (@DrSJaishankar) June 11, 2024

Responding to WION, Jaishankar said that the influence of India is "steadily growing, world trusts India". He added that "India's foreign policy will grow under PM Narendra Modi's government".

#WATCH | Delhi: Dr S Jaishankar takes charge as External Affairs Minister pic.twitter.com/vRsE3Hpr3m — ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2024

Just before taking charge, India's external affairs minister said, "We are a people-centric ministry. Our neighbouring relationship will be the overriding priority. India's prestige will grow."

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Speaking about the meeting with Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, who was among the chief guests invited to the oath-taking ceremony, he said, "We had a very good meeting with President Muizzuand the PM also met him. I would prefer to be guided by my experience and conversation."

Cross-border terror is not a policy for good neighbours: EAM

The foreign minister, while speaking on India's ties with Pakistan, said that "cross border terror cannot be the policy of good neighbours".

Later, while talking about the agenda regarding India's ties with Pakistan and China in the next 5 years, withthe news agency ANI, Jaishankar said, "The relations with those countries are different, and the problems there are also different. Our focus with regard to China will be on finding a solution for the border issues and with Pakistan, we would want to find a solution to the issue of years-old cross-border terrorism."

S Jaishankar reiterated his confidence in the foreign policy of Modi 3.0 being very successful.

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"For us, the influence of India has been steadily growing,not just in terms of our own perception but also what the other countries think. They feel that India is truly their friend and they have seen that in times of crisis, if there is one country that stands with the Global South, it is India. They have seen that when we put forward the African Union membership during the presidency of G20, the world trusted us and our responsibilities are also increasing, so we also believe that under the leadership of PM Modi, India's identity in the world will definitely increase," he said.

Meanwhile, on heading the Ministry of External Affairs for the second time in a row, Jaishankar said, "It is an immense honour to be once again given the responsibility. In the last term, this ministry performed exceptionally well. We delivered the G20 presidency. We took on the challenges of COVID including, Vaccine Maitri supplies. We also were the centre of crucial operations like Operation Ganga and Operation Kaveri."

(With inputs from agencies)