EAM Jaishankar’s ‘Diplomacy’ Wins; Iran Allows Officials to Meet 17 Indians on Seized ‘Israeli’ Ship

By R. Anil Kumar

• External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar Addressing Press in Bengaluru on April 15

• In the current scenario India is seen as a “VishwaBandhu”: EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar

• “India is an oasis of stability,” when other parts of the world is witnessing turbulence: EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar

• The positions we take, makes an impact on the world,”- External Affairs Minister

• We are having challenges in the Indo-Pacific – a lot of challenges on the boundaries of different countries in Asia. We need somebody who has global understanding, who has global respect, and that is Prime Minister Narendra Modi”: EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar

Bengaluru, April 15. Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced today that Indian government officials will gain access to the 17 Indian crew members aboard an Israel-linked cargo ship seized by Iran.

This assurance followed External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s call to his Iranian counterpart, Amir Abdollahian, expressing concern over the crew’s conditions.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) special forces unit conducted the operation to seize control of the container ship MSC Aries in the Gulf of Hormuz, approximately 80 km off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.

Meanwhile External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said that “Modi Ki Guarantee’ is both – inside and outside the Nation”, on talks with his Iranian counterpart, Amir Abdollahian for the release of 17 crew members on the MSC Aries cargo ship.

“When we speak about Modi Ki Guarantee, it is both Inside and out of the nation. They get this free guarantee from Modi. Last night I spoke to my Iranian counterpart. I pressed that there are 17 Indian crew and made a point that these people should be released,” this has been answered in the affirmative, the EAM said.

“I want our embassy to go meet these people, this will be my first satisfaction. The Iranian counterpart was responsive and said he will try to help,” he added.

EAM Jaishankar on  April 14 had spoken to his Israeli and Iranian counterparts amid high tensions between the two countries.

Following the talks, Iranian FM Amir Abdollahian mentioned that they are following up on the details related to the detained ship and soon the possibility of representatives of the Indian government meeting with the crew of the mentioned ship will be provided.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards seized the MSC Aries when it was sailing through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday. The Israeli-affiliated container ship had 17 Indian crew members and was en route to the port of NhavaSheva in Mumbai and the expected arrival was on the night of April 15.

Commandos from Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard raided the ship near the Strait of Hormuz by helicopter as tensions between Iran and Israel grew following the latter’s alleged strike on the former’s consulate in the Syrian capital of Damascus earlier this month.

“India is an oasis of stability,” when other parts of the world is witnessing turbulence. No Country in the world except India, can claim that we are better-off when compared to last 5-10 years, Jaishankar stated and all these have been possible due to the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

No doubt there will be hard times ahead, to overcome this we need an able and courageous leader, and India is blessed with such a leader in Narendra Modi, Jaishankar said.

Earlier addressing a Press Conference, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar Hailing the BJP’s manifesto highlighted India’s immense potential in the global value chains that foster an enabling environment for trade, investing in infrastructure, and nurturing a skilled workforce.

He said that while there is a commitment to “Surakshit Bharat” in the manifesto, on the economic side, there is a very strong record to show the country’s exports are at a record high as well.

He added that, despite all this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government would like to take it forward and get India connected to global value chains.

Jaishankar said, “There is, of course, in the manifesto, a commitment to “Surakshit Bharat,” but on the economic side, we have again a very strong record to show to the country that today our exports are at a record high, but we want to take it forward, we want to get India connected to global value chains. We want, as I said… we are very confident that in the coming years, we will emerge as the largest economy, which will also create many more employment possibilities.”

He also stated that a lot has been done by the Modi government to increase the scale of manufacturing in the country

“…there is a commitment to increase manufacturing. From the time our reform started… until Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, manufacturing was actually neglected. And today, we have done a lot to increase the scale of manufacturing in this country. And, we want to ensure that India becomes an electronic hub, it becomes a defence hub, it becomes a semiconductor hub, and a space hub…manufacturing is something where we see a lot of possibilities, Jaishankar said, adding that “it is also something very very relevant to the youth of the Country.”

The EAM underlined that there is also a big segment in the manifesto about foreign relations, and added that in the current scenario, India is seen as a “VishwaBandhu.”

“Today, we are seen as a VishwaBandhu. We executed the responsibility of G20 very well. On most major issues of the day, it is something on what we say, the positions we take, that makes an impact on the world,” Jaishankar said.

“Here, whether it is countering terrorism, or whether it is, today, safeguarding the borders, we are today, taking strong positions, and the posture of the PM Modi government has been very clear. We have new challenges coming up in terms of cyber, maritime, etc.,” he added.

Jaishankar, as he went to speak, underlined that if today, “there is cross-border terrorism, there is a very strong reply back.”

Recalling the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Israel-Gaza, the EAM said, “Today, we have one conflict in Ukraine, one conflict in Israel-Gaza, and we are looking at tensions in the Red Sea area…in the Arabian Sea area. We are having challenges in the Indo-Pacific–a lot of challenges on the boundaries of different countries in Asia. We need somebody who has global understanding, who has global respect, and that is Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”

Jaishankar underlined that ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ is not only inside the country but also outside the country as well.

Referring to it, he said, “Whenever any Indian travels abroad, this guarantee Modi gives…I mean, they can take the travel insurance, but they get a free guarantee from Modi. The free guarantee from Modi is that whatever trouble you are in, we are there for you. We have shown it in Ukraine and Sudan, and we have shown it repeatedly during COVID.”

In terms of national progress, Jaishankar said, “I think it is very important we have a government with a strong majority, which will continue to carry out reforms, which will take bold measures, which will think big, which will be able to meet the aspirations of the poorest persons through the yojanas, but also the aspirations of the youth.”