Couldn't agree more: Top US official Blinken hails PM Modi's remarks on Ukraine in joint press meet with Jaishankar
On the US F-16 equipment sale to Pakistan, Blinken said that 'it's a sustained program that Pakistan has long had. We have a responsibility & obligation to whomever we provide military equipment to'
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and EAM S Jaishankar hold a joint press conference in Washington on 27 September 2022. ANI
New Delhi: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a joint press conference with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar in Washington on Tuesday praised PM Narendra Modi’s remark on the Ukraine war during the recent SCO summit.
Blinken said the US “couldn’t agree more with” what the PM told Russian president Vladimir Putin at the meeting in Uzbekistan’s Samarkand.
“I really want to emphasise on what PM Modi said, I think he captured, as well as anyone I have heard, fundamentally what this moment is about as he said, this is not an era, the time for war & we could not agree more,” Blinken said.
Calling an end to hostilities, Modi had told Putin that “today’s not an era of war.”
#WATCH | EAM Dr S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken respond to ANI questions on the discussion held on Ukraine conflict & Taiwan situation during UNGA and US discussion with Pakistan on ways to improve ties with India & F16s to Pak pic.twitter.com/b7VUzb1d6q
— ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2022
At the joint press conference, Jaishankar called for a return to dialogue & diplomacy on the Ukraine conflict.
“This conflict is not in anybody’s interest,” he said.
Spike in oil prices breaking India’s back: Jaishankar
The Indian foreign minister also raised concerns over the rise in oil prices.
“Look, we have concerns about the price of oil but we are a USD 2,000 per capita economy. When the price of oil is breaking our back and it’s our big concern,” he said.
Jaishankar was responding to a question on a cap on Russian oil.
The G-7 countries and the European Union have mooted an oil price cap on Russian imports to limit the country’s source of income.
F-16 equipment sale to Pak part of sustained program: Blinken
Another major issue that featured during the press conference was the US equipment sales for F-16 jets to Pakistan.
“This is a sustained program for F16s that Pakistan has long had. These are not new, this is sustaining what they have. We have a responsibility & obligation to whomever we provide military equipment to, that it’s maintained & sustained,” Blinken said.
He added that no two countries than India and US have a greater ability, opportunity, and responsibility to try to shape the future.
Meanwhile, Jaishankar added that India makes its choice about procuring defence equipment in its national interest.
“Don’t think we’ve faced any problems in terms of servicing or spare parts supply we’ve got in the past from Russia. Where we get our military equipment is not a new issue or changed due to geopolitical changes. We exercise a choice that is in our national interest,” he said.
With inputs from agencies
Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,
India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
also read
At UNGA, Joe Biden to urge the world to stand against Russia's 'naked aggression' in Ukraine
Joe Biden's UN General Assembly address comes as Russian-controlled regions of eastern and southern Ukraine have announced plans to hold Kremlin-backed referendums
Russia stiffens penalty for soldiers refusing to fight, replaces top general
The developments come days after Russia instigated a partial mobilisation affecting up to 300,000 additional troops, at a time when Kyiv has taken back more territory in a stunning counter-offensive
Anxious about Russia's next move, Latvia prepares itself for war
Latvia's national guard commander-in-chief Egils Lescinskis hailed the 'great increase' in volunteer interest and said they had received around 4,000 applications since the beginning of 2022