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India on Tuesday dismissed Pakistan’s decision to raise the bounty on Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, calling it a “phony announcement” and saying Islamabad needed to take concrete action against terror suspects.
“For a state sponsor of terror to make phony announcements, we all know how hollow it is,” the Ministry of External Affairs said at a press briefing.
The ministry said Pakistan should act against those accused of terrorism rather than make announcements that have no practical consequences.
“They must take action and not make phony announcements which are of no consequence,” the MEA said.
The comments came after Pakistan added Azhar to its most-wanted terrorists list and raised the bounty for information leading to his capture to PKR 70 lakh, ahead of the Financial Action Task Force’s October plenary.
India, China discuss border and regional issues
On India-China ties, the MEA said several issues were discussed during recent talks, including border transgressions, China’s role in Operation Sindoor and the possibility of a quid pro quo between the two countries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also raised India’s concerns and stressed the need for both sides to be sensitive to each other’s interests, the ministry said.
India-China relations should be guided by three principles — mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity, it added.
The comments followed remarks by China’s foreign minister that the two countries had reached a “consensus”. The MEA said it had taken note of the statement and pointed to the readout already issued on the talks.
Asked about a five-point initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, the ministry said the proposals had been outlined in China’s national statement at the summit.
“It is now for member countries to see how best they can look at this as to what direction they can be given,” the MEA said.
13 Indian seafarers rescued after vessel attack
Thirteen of 14 Indian seafarers aboard a Panama-flagged vessel that came under attack off Oman have been rescued, while one Indian national remains missing, the MEA said.
Search-and-rescue operations were continuing, with the ministry thanking Omani authorities for helping rescue the Indian nationals.
“Targeting of commercial shipping, seafarers, civilians and civilian infrastructure in the region is unacceptable to us,” the MEA said.
India also called for the restoration of safe navigation and uninterrupted commercial traffic through international waterways in the region.
India concerned about Red Sea escalation
The MEA said India remained concerned about the escalation in the Red Sea region, including attacks by the Houthis on Saudi oil infrastructure.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had discussed the issue along with other regional and international developments during a meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, the ministry said.
India recently condemned an attack on Saudi Arabia and said the escalation threatened regional stability and freedom of navigation through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait.
The MEA said India continued to receive energy supplies from the region.
India wants to deepen Russia energy ties
India and Russia are also discussing further cooperation in the energy sector, including nuclear energy, the MEA said.
The two countries have a long-standing energy relationship and India wants to expand that cooperation, the ministry said. Technical teams from both sides have been holding discussions.
The MEA said it would provide further details as talks progress.
Asked about India being named in a proposed US-Russia sanctions bill, the ministry reiterated that India’s energy sourcing decisions are guided by its national interest.
India calls BRICS summit a ‘major success’
The MEA described India’s recently hosted BRICS summit as a “major success”, saying New Delhi managed to build consensus among member countries on several contentious issues.
The BRICS declaration produced more than 50 outcomes covering political and international affairs, trade, investment, innovation and startups, according to the ministry.
Member countries also backed reform of global governance and stronger multilateralism, while calling for greater representation of the Global South, the MEA said. The declaration also included strong language on terrorism.
The summit brought together 32 delegations, including 11 BRICS member states, 10 partner countries, four regional organisations and seven international organisations. Many of the delegations were led by heads of state.
The MEA said countries continued to have differences on some issues, but India was able to bring them together around common outcomes.
It described this as India’s “convening strength” and said the summit produced development-focused and action-oriented outcomes.
On whether more countries could join BRICS as partners, the MEA said decisions within the grouping are taken by consensus. While BRICS had expanded in recent years, member countries were currently focused on consolidation, it said.
The question of adding partner countries was not discussed at the latest meeting, the ministry added.
India raises Zakir Naik issue with Malaysia
On Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s comments that fugitive Islamic preacher Zakir Naik was discussed during his bilateral meeting with Modi, the MEA said India continued to raise the matter with Malaysia at various levels.
On the omission of the South China Sea from the official readout of Modi’s meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the MEA said the readout covered discussions on regional and global developments as well as issues of mutual interest.
Also Read: India’s unemployment rate falls to six-month low as rural jobs improve
“For a state sponsor of terror to make phony announcements, we all know how hollow it is,” the Ministry of External Affairs said at a press briefing.
The ministry said Pakistan should act against those accused of terrorism rather than make announcements that have no practical consequences.
“They must take action and not make phony announcements which are of no consequence,” the MEA said.
The comments came after Pakistan added Azhar to its most-wanted terrorists list and raised the bounty for information leading to his capture to PKR 70 lakh, ahead of the Financial Action Task Force’s October plenary.
India, China discuss border and regional issues
On India-China ties, the MEA said several issues were discussed during recent talks, including border transgressions, China’s role in Operation Sindoor and the possibility of a quid pro quo between the two countries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also raised India’s concerns and stressed the need for both sides to be sensitive to each other’s interests, the ministry said.
India-China relations should be guided by three principles — mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity, it added.
The comments followed remarks by China’s foreign minister that the two countries had reached a “consensus”. The MEA said it had taken note of the statement and pointed to the readout already issued on the talks.
Asked about a five-point initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, the ministry said the proposals had been outlined in China’s national statement at the summit.
“It is now for member countries to see how best they can look at this as to what direction they can be given,” the MEA said.
13 Indian seafarers rescued after vessel attack
Thirteen of 14 Indian seafarers aboard a Panama-flagged vessel that came under attack off Oman have been rescued, while one Indian national remains missing, the MEA said.
Search-and-rescue operations were continuing, with the ministry thanking Omani authorities for helping rescue the Indian nationals.
“Targeting of commercial shipping, seafarers, civilians and civilian infrastructure in the region is unacceptable to us,” the MEA said.
India also called for the restoration of safe navigation and uninterrupted commercial traffic through international waterways in the region.
India concerned about Red Sea escalation
The MEA said India remained concerned about the escalation in the Red Sea region, including attacks by the Houthis on Saudi oil infrastructure.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had discussed the issue along with other regional and international developments during a meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, the ministry said.
India recently condemned an attack on Saudi Arabia and said the escalation threatened regional stability and freedom of navigation through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait.
The MEA said India continued to receive energy supplies from the region.
India wants to deepen Russia energy ties
India and Russia are also discussing further cooperation in the energy sector, including nuclear energy, the MEA said.
The two countries have a long-standing energy relationship and India wants to expand that cooperation, the ministry said. Technical teams from both sides have been holding discussions.
The MEA said it would provide further details as talks progress.
Asked about India being named in a proposed US-Russia sanctions bill, the ministry reiterated that India’s energy sourcing decisions are guided by its national interest.
India calls BRICS summit a ‘major success’
The MEA described India’s recently hosted BRICS summit as a “major success”, saying New Delhi managed to build consensus among member countries on several contentious issues.
The BRICS declaration produced more than 50 outcomes covering political and international affairs, trade, investment, innovation and startups, according to the ministry.
Member countries also backed reform of global governance and stronger multilateralism, while calling for greater representation of the Global South, the MEA said. The declaration also included strong language on terrorism.
The summit brought together 32 delegations, including 11 BRICS member states, 10 partner countries, four regional organisations and seven international organisations. Many of the delegations were led by heads of state.
The MEA said countries continued to have differences on some issues, but India was able to bring them together around common outcomes.
It described this as India’s “convening strength” and said the summit produced development-focused and action-oriented outcomes.
On whether more countries could join BRICS as partners, the MEA said decisions within the grouping are taken by consensus. While BRICS had expanded in recent years, member countries were currently focused on consolidation, it said.
The question of adding partner countries was not discussed at the latest meeting, the ministry added.
India raises Zakir Naik issue with Malaysia
On Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s comments that fugitive Islamic preacher Zakir Naik was discussed during his bilateral meeting with Modi, the MEA said India continued to raise the matter with Malaysia at various levels.
On the omission of the South China Sea from the official readout of Modi’s meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the MEA said the readout covered discussions on regional and global developments as well as issues of mutual interest.
Also Read: India’s unemployment rate falls to six-month low as rural jobs improve
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