India, UK discuss Afghanistan, Indo-Pacific; Agree to deepen cooperation in strategic areas of defence, security – Times of India

New Delhi: India and UK On Friday they agreed to strengthen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific as their foreign ministers held wide-ranging talks on key bilateral and regional issues and stressed the need for safe and unhindered access to humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and ensure that its use Not used to threaten or attack anyone. To shelter or train the country or terrorists.
During the conversation between the Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and British Foreign Secretary Elizabeth trussThe two sides also agreed on the establishment of the India-UK Strategic Futures Forum Track, a new 1.5 dialogue mechanism to promote expert consultations on the long-term strategic relationship between them.

Stating that India and the UK can do a lot in areas such as sharing their expertise on the environment ahead of the COP26 summit, Truss said, “We are glad that the Prime Minister will be there.”
The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, is scheduled to be held from October 31 to November 12, 2021 in the city of Glasgow, Scotland.
Jaishankar and Truss, who are on an official two-day visit to India, also took a detailed review of the Roadmap 2030 launched during the India-UK Virtual Summit between the Prime Ministers. Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson in May earlier this year.
Following the virtual summit, India and the UK had unveiled an ambitious 10-year roadmap to boost cooperation in key areas including defence, security and health care.
Jaishankar tweeted after the conversation, “Glad to welcome UK Foreign Secretary @trussliz to Delhi. Just completed a comprehensive review of our relationship.”
Both the leaders appreciated the progress made so far on the implementation of Roadmap 2030 despite the constraints posed by the pandemic and Jaishankar said that the roadmap is progressing well and is focused on trade and prosperity, people-to-people ties, defense and security, There are pillars on the climate. And health is all moving forward.
After the talks, Truss tweeted, “India is our great friend, an economic superpower and the world’s largest democracy. Our relations will be vital in the coming decades. Technology, investment and trade, security and defence.”
“You are a fellow democrat; you believe in free enterprise and you believe in freedom. I think it is very important that countries like ours work together on our shared plans for the future,” she said.
In a statement on the talks, the Ministry of External Affairs said that the two ministers welcomed the progress in delivering the advanced trade partnership announced at the virtual summit between the two prime ministers.
The Ministry of External Affairs said they also underscored the need to start FTA negotiations at the earliest, with a focus on negotiating an interim agreement that could quickly benefit businesses in both India and the UK.
During their talks, the two sides also discussed a number of regional and international issues of mutual interest, sharing their commitment to a multi-polar world and multilateralism.
The Ministry of External Affairs said they agreed to strengthen cooperation in the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific on combating terrorism and radical extremism and addressing emerging challenges in the cyber and space domains.
While India is a member of the Quad along with the US, Japan and Australia, the UK is part of the AUKUS along with Australia and the US. The two groups aim to strengthen cooperation between these countries in the Indo-Pacific region.
“On Afghanistan, the need for full, safe and unhindered access to humanitarian aid was discussed, as well as to any country threatening or attacking or harboring or training terrorists, or terrorist planning or funding Afghan territory. The need for not using attacks was also discussed,” it said.
Earlier in the day, Jaishankar also held a meeting with the UK Chief of Defense Staff General Nicholas Carter During this, he discussed the situation in Afghanistan and issues related to the Indo-Pacific.
The discussions came amid growing global concerns over the possibility of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan.
Jaishankar and Truss discussed the Migration and Mobility Partnership and the Global Innovation Partnership and are committed to their early implementation.
During their talks, Jaishankar and Truss also acknowledged the establishment of a new dialogue mechanism to discuss consular issues and maritime security.
Detailed discussions were held on enhancing cooperation in key priority areas of trade and investment, people-to-people ties, health partnership, climate change, science and innovation and defense and security, the statement said.
There is a significant opportunity to deepen bilateral ties in many areas, be it security and defence, technology and health, the British Foreign Secretary said and congratulated India on crossing the 100 crore COVID vaccine dose milestone.
Truss also met the Finance Minister earlier in the day Nirmala Sitharaman and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupendra Yadav.
On Saturday, she will visit Mumbai where she will attend trade and defense events organized in connection with the Carrier Strike Group 21 (CSG 21) visit to India.
She will also pay her respects at the memorial to honor the victims of the 26 November 2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai.