New Delhi: Indian external affairs minister S. Jaishankar met with UN secretary general Antonio Guterres to talk about the situation in Sudan, where hundreds of Indian nationals are stranded amidst the spiralling violence in Khartoum.
Earlier on Thursday, Jaishankar had spoken to his Egyptian counterpart, after having conversations with the UAE and Saudi Arabian foreign ministers. All three countries have considerable leverage in Sudan, where fighting is going on between heavily-armed forces led by two squabbling army commanders.
For the past week, Sudan has experienced violent clashes between the national army and a paramilitary group, resulting in an estimated death toll of nearly 300 people. An Indian national also died from a gunshot wound.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, the Indian embassy is in contact with countries in the region as well as with other nations that hold a “key role”, specifically the United States, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
“We are also in touch with various UN bodies that are present there. The UN has a significant presence on the ground. The external affairs minister is presently in New York and he is likely to meet the UN Secretary-General to discuss developments in Sudan,” he had said at the weekly media briefing on Thursday. Jaishankar was transiting through New York on his way to South America.
After Jaishankar met with Guterres, the Indian foreign minister tweeted that the India backed establishment of early ceasefire, that would allow movement of people. “Focus understandably was on Sudan. India strongly supports efforts towards an early ceasefire, leading to creation of safe corridors. Will continue to work closely with UN and other partners in this regard.”
Focus understandably was on Sudan. India strongly supports efforts towards an early ceasefire, leading to creation of safe corridors. Will continue to work closely with UN and other partners in this regard.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 20, 2023
In response to a question on the evacuation of Indian citizens, Bagchi had said that India did have “contingency plans”. “We are in close touch with our teams on the ground. But it will all depend on how long there is a pause in the fighting or a ceasefire; where it is happening, what is available in terms of locations where we can safely take people away,” he said.
Even if there was a pause in the fighting, the first priority would be to ensure that people got food and water as these essential items were running out.
“If the situation on the ground improves, if there is a pause in the fighting or there is a ceasefire, we will certainly take advantage of that primarily to first get the people to safer areas, provide food and water,” said the MEA spokesperson.
Painting a grim picture, Bagchi said, “For the moment, it is a very tense situation where there is not too much of a respite from fighting although the intensity has been going up and down.”
When questioned about the alleged attacks on the Indian embassy in Khartoum, Bagchi explained that the embassy is situated directly across from the city’s airport, which has been a hotbed of conflict in recent times
“There has been some shelling as well. I would not be able to specifically comment on whether it has happened specifically outside the embassy, but yes, there are reports that in that zone where there are many embassies, attacks are going on,” he said.
He pointed out that since the fighting broke out during the weekend, it was not possible for Indian officials to visit the embassy and staff were operating from their residences.
“We are keeping a very close watch on the evolving situation there. Our mission in Khartoum has been in contact with the Indian community there through multiple channels – informal, formal,” Bagchi said.
The MEA spokesperson said the power supply and internet connectivity in that country have been patchy.
On Sunday, the embassy confirmed the death of an Indian citizen in Khartoum due to gunshot injuries. Bagchi stated that the deceased person’s body had been transferred from his apartment complex to a mortuary in a hospital.