The outcome of the US presidential election is unlikely to affect India’s relationship with the United States, as it is based on bipartisan support, Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla said.
Presidential candidate Joe Biden has made it “very clear that he values a strong strategic partnership between India and the United States,” and this is common for both Biden and the President of the United States, Donald Trump, Shringla said in an interview with the DW channel. News.
“Our relations with the United States are really based on bipartisan support, you see it in Congress, you see it at the public level. We believe that we have forged a relationship that today has stood the test of time, it is very complete and multifaceted, “he said.
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“Not only do we share the same values and principles, but we also have the same strategic vision in what could be bilateral, regional or multilateral relations,” he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ties to Trump “have been special,” he said, noting that Modi’s “relationship with [former president Barack] Obama was also very special. ”
When asked about the border confrontation with China in the Ladakh sector of the Royal Line of Control (LAC), Shringla replied: “Clearly, we believe that the situation has involved some level of deterioration … it has contributed to the deterioration in terms of The ties between our two countries due to China’s unusual step to seek to unilaterally alter the status quo. ”
Shringla responded to questions about whether China had occupied territory on the Indian side of LAC by saying, “You should keep in mind that there is no common perception of the border, but if you are looking to change where the current line is where the troops are, then Of course, it has an impact on the broader relationship.
“We are concerned that China has taken this step. We are very, very clear that we will stand firm and resolute in our resolution not to allow our territorial integrity or sovereignty to be compromised. ”
Responding to a question about the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quadruple Grouping comprising India, Australia, Japan and the US, Shringla said: “The gang is a grouping of countries that have the same vision of an Indo-Pacific region. free, open and transparent, a rules-based international order, the freedom of international navigation in the global commons and also issues such as open connectivity [and] respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the states ”.
Quad members are “working to reinforce the capacities and skills of the Indo-Pacific countries, with Asean as their centrality, in a constructive and cooperative way.”
Shringla was scathing in her response to a question about Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, who described the government of India as “fascist”, saying: “That is ripe coming from the prime minister of a country that does not recognize the state. of Israel, which so far does not recognize that the Holocaust occurred, which has provided a safe sanctuary for Osama bin Laden and Mullah Omar of the Taliban years after 9/11, a country that today has a debt greater than its GDP, a country who has huge socio-economic problems and political problems now with a full coalition of all opposition parties seeking to overthrow Prime Minister Imran Khan and those who support him from the deep state. ”
He said the comments were “an attempt to divert international attention and national attention” from Khan’s problems. “Considering your situation and Pakistan’s own approach towards radicalism, terrorism and issues that are important to the international community, you really shouldn’t be making such irresponsible statements,” he added.
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