October 26, 2022
2 mins read

Jaishankar holds talks with Britain’s Foreign Secretary

The phone call showed high-level dialogue between the two sides has been on track despite the political developments in London including the resignation of Liz Truss…reports Asian Lite News

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday discussed relations between India-U.K. with his British counterpart James Cleverly. The call took place just before Mr. Cleverly was confirmed to continue in the post of Foreign Secretary by the newly appointed British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The two Ministers discussed several issues but the announcement of the phone call did not include the state of negotiation of the India-U.K. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that missed the Deepavali deadline that was given earlier this year by Prime Minister Boris Johnson during his visit to India.

“Received a call from UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly. Discussed counter-terrorism, bilateral relations and the Ukraine conflict,” Jaishankar said in a social media announcement.

Shortly thereafter, Cleverly was reappointed Foreign Secretary by Prime Minister Sunak. The phone call showed high-level dialogue between the two sides has been on track despite the political developments in London including the resignation of Liz Truss and appointment of Mr. Sunak as her successor.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrives in Downing Street. Picture by Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Prime Minister Sunak on Monday, extended Deepavali greetings, and said that he looks “forward to working closely together on global issues, and implementing Roadmap 2030.”

The Roadmap 2030 was launched on May 4, 2021, during the India-U.K. virtual summit led by Prime Minister Modi and the then British Prime Minister Johnson. One of the main focus areas of Roadmap 2030 was the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries which received further boost during Johnson’s India visit in April this year. He had announced that the deal would be ready by Diwali.

However, both sides had reconciled to the possibility of missing that deadline last week when British media reported that the deal was “put on hold”. The Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Arindam Bagchi however, responded saying that the negotiation should be left to the concerned officials and the deal was on track.

India and the U.K. have held several rounds of dialogue on the trade pact so far and it is understood that the talks will continue after Prime Minister Sunak’s team gets down to business.

ALSO READ: India, China should seek a common ground, says envoy

Previous Story

India, China should seek a common ground, says envoy

Next Story

ISRO’s changing policy for rocket names

Latest from -Top News

Activists Targeted Again in Balochistan

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) on Tuesday condemned the enforced disappearance of Baloch leader Ghani Baloch, blaming Pakistan’s Law Enforcement Agencies and Frontier Corps….reports Asian Lite News The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC),

Islamabad-Ankara-Baku Axis Sharpens Against India

Both Turkey and Azerbaijan have openly expressed solidarity with Pakistan and backed Islamabad in its military standoff with India, this month….reports Asian Lite News The evolving alliance between Islamabad, Ankara, and Baku

B’desh SC Acquits Islamist in War Crimes Case

ATM Azharul Islam was slapped with the charges of crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War of the country in 1971….reports Asian Lite News The Supreme Court of Bangladesh on Tuesday

India Targets Pak Terror Ties in Guyana

The delegation met the Guyanese President, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, who had hosted a dinner to celebrate friendship and shared aspirations between the two nations…reports Asian Lite News Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, currently

EU Vows US Trade Deal

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen phoned Trump on Sunday, after which he agreed to postpone the planned tariff increase until July 9….reports Asian Lite News The European Commission remains “fully
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Triumphant Journey from Bus Conductor to Phalke Legatee

The superstar, who used to work as a bus conductor

High-octane campaign ends in Telangana, Andhra

Election authorities in both the states heightened their vigilance to