jaishankar-us-officials-discuss-bangladesh-pakistan-trade-off-table

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during his visit to Washington, held a brief discussion on the prevailing situation in Bangladesh with newly-appointed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.

 

"Yes, we had a brief discussion on Bangladesh. I don't think it's appropriate that I get into more details," Jaishankar said, responding to a query from Indian media persons during a news conference. 

 

However, he refrained from elaborating on whether the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh was part of the discussions.

 

The minister clarified that the attacks on Indian consulates in the United States or the threat to Indian diplomats were not raised during these meetings. "I didn't raise those issues on this occasion," he stated.

 

However, he cited the seriousness of the attack on the Indian consulate in San Francisco.

 

"But I do want to say that the attack on our consulate in San Francisco is a very, very serious matter. It is something for which we expect accountability, and we would like to see that people who did it are held responsible," Jaishankar asserted.

 

Regarding the two cases involving a former Indian official and an Indian business tycoon in US courts over the last two years, Jaishankar confirmed, "No, the subject didn't come up (during the meetings)."

 

On the matter of trade with Pakistan, the minister categorically stated that there have been no discussions about resuming bilateral trade.

 

"After last year, there have been no talks with Pakistan on trade, nor has any initiative come from their side," Jaishankar noted.

 

He emphasised that India had never ceased trade with Pakistan and attributed the suspension to a decision made by Islamabad in 2019.

 

"From the very beginning, our interest was that India should get the status of most favoured nation. We used to give MFN status to Pakistan. But they did not grant the same status to us," he said.

 

The suspension of trade and downgrading of diplomatic ties by Pakistan came in August 2019, in retaliation to India’s abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

 

The then-government of Pakistan, led by Imran Khan, had initiated these measures.