External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar has reiterated India&rsquo;s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka&rsquo;s economic recovery while also discussing efforts to stabilize ties with China following the 2020 border crisis. He also took a firm stance on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), stating that the return of the &ldquo;stolen&rdquo; territory is key to fully resolving the Kashmir issue.
Speaking at Chatham House, a London-based think tank, on Wednesday, Jaishankar said that India had stepped in with a financial package exceeding $4 billion to help Sri Lanka navigate its crippling 2022 economic crisis. &ldquo;When Sri Lanka had a very serious financial crisis while the rest of the world largely sat on its hands, we actually came forward with a package of more than $4 billion, which was almost twice the size of the IMF package,&rdquo; he said.
He emphasized India&rsquo;s longstanding support for its neighbours but also underscored the need for reciprocity. &ldquo;While we are a larger economy and by and large we are generous and non-reciprocal, we have interests like any nation. So we also expect our neighbours to recognize that and to cater to our sensitivities as well,&rdquo; he said.
Sri Lanka, a key maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), holds a special place in India&rsquo;s &lsquo;SAGAR&rsquo; (Security and Growth for All in the Region) initiative and its &lsquo;Neighbourhood First&rsquo; policy. In April 2022, the island nation declared its first sovereign default since gaining independence in 1948, triggering widespread unrest and the resignation of then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. India&rsquo;s financial assistance played a crucial role in stabilizing&nbsp;the situation.
Before his London visit, Jaishankar had met Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in New Delhi in December 2024 to discuss deepening cooperation. He had also called on President Dissanayake in Colombo in October, reaffirming India&rsquo;s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.
On India-China relations, Jaishankar said that the two countries were working on stabilizing&nbsp;ties after addressing urgent troop disengagement issues along the border. &ldquo;We are discussing how to put the relationship on a more predictable and positive course,&rdquo; he said.
During his Chatham House address, he mentioned that resuming pilgrimages to religious sites under China&rsquo;s control, direct flights, and journalist exchanges were being considered. He also noted efforts to revive stalled discussions on trans-border rivers, which had been disrupted since 2020.
Relations between India and China deteriorated following the deadly Galwan Valley clashes in 2020, which resulted in casualties on both sides. However, in October 2024, the two nations resolved several urgent disengagement issues, paving the way for talks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping later met in Russia during the BRICS summit, and Jaishankar held discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in South Africa. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri have also engaged with Chinese counterparts.
In October 2024, Foreign Secretary Misri confirmed that an agreement had been reached following negotiations, leading to a resolution of key border issues. &ldquo;We are looking at this package, and people tasked with that mandate are dealing with each other,&rdquo; Jaishankar said. &ldquo;Obviously, we would like to see it done sooner rather than later. And then we will see what happens.&rdquo;
Jaishankar also made a sharp remark on PoK when asked about Kashmir by a Pakistani journalist. &ldquo;The part we are waiting for is the return of the stolen part of Kashmir, which is under illegal Pakistani occupation. When that is done, I assure you, Kashmir is solved,&rdquo; he asserted.
(With agency input)

EAM reaffirms support for Sri Lanka’s recovery, outlines talks with China, and asserts India’s stand on PoK

India Aids Lanka, Seeks Stable China Ties: EAM

EAM reaffirms support for Sri Lanka’s recovery, outlines talks with China, and asserts India’s stand on PoK

March 6, 2025 | 10:38 IST