High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India, M. Riaz Hamidullah, today called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at the Civil Secretariat here.
The Chief Minister welcomed the High Commissioner to Jammu and Kashmir and held discussions on areas of mutual interest, including horticulture, medical education and other potential areas of cooperation.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Thursday extended Shri Krishna Janmashtami greetings to the people of the state from the sacred land of Braj.
He inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 229 development projects worth Rs 1,051 crore, including the Swami Shri Haridas Auditorium at the Gita Research Institute and Rasleela Academy, Vrindavan.
These included the inauguration of 62 projects worth more than Rs 540 crore and the foundation laying of 167 projects costing more than Rs 437 crore. In addition, an amount of more than Rs 72 crore was transferred to the accounts of beneficiaries under the housing scheme.
Citing the examples of Braj, Ayodhya, Kashi and other places, the Chief Minister stated, “Foreign invaders may have demolished temples, but they could never shake our devotion.”
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath observed that Swami Haridas Ji Maharaj gave devotion the form of music. “He transformed music into a spiritual practice and connected it with the consciousness of society. His spiritual discipline performed the remarkable task of connecting even an emperor with the essence of devotion. The great musician Tansen was a disciple of Swami Haridas Ji,” he said.
“For a long time, we tried to view development only through the lens of roads, electricity, water, buildings and industries. In the name of development, our heritage continued to be insulted. Attempts were made to erase the heroes of history from Indian memory. First foreign invaders, and then the British, destroyed our history and historical symbols, but the previous governments crossed all limits in neglecting and disrespecting our heritage.”
CM Yogi said the heritage and celebrations for which Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana, Govardhan and the Baldev region are known today were not possible before 2017. Referring to the disturbances during the Jawahar Bagh incident in June 2016, in which 29 people lost their lives, the Chief Minister said that two police officers were also martyred in the incident.
“Amid such disturbances, who could have imagined celebrations, development, and the preservation of civilization and culture in the state? A nation becomes great by rediscovering its memory, culture and roots. A society that is conscious of its heritage learns from the world and also teaches the world,” he added.
CM Yogi said India’s history is not merely a history of achievements, but also a history of struggle, preservation, reconstruction and the continuity of Sanatan. “Mathura is its greatest example. The Keshav Dev Temple at Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi has endured numerous attacks. Foreign invaders demolished temples, but they could not erase the memory of Shri Krishna and Radharani. Neither did the celebration of Janmashtami stop, nor did the devotion of Vrindavan cease. Neither did the Holi of Barsana come to a halt, nor did the Govardhan Parikrama stop. This is the strength of Sanatan and Braj,” he said.
CM Yogi added that history records attacks on temples, yet during the same period, saints such as Swami Haridas on the land of Braj developed through spiritual practice a stream of music whose resonance has continued for centuries.
“It will continue to attract every musician for eternity. Aurangzeb demolished the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, but the tradition never ended. Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar played a significant role in rebuilding the temple. Today, Kashi Vishwanath Dham is known for its grandeur and modern facilities,” he said.
“In Ayodhya, Babur demolished the grand temple at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi in 1528 and constructed a structure of subjugation in its place, but this did not stop Ram Navami, the Panchkosi, 14 Kosi and 84 Kosi Parikramas, or the Sawan Jhoola Mela. The radiance of Sanatan continued to grow and continued to inspire the spirit of struggle. The result is that a grand temple of Prabhu Shri Ram now stands in Ayodhya.”
He said that to understand India, one must understand the folk traditions of saints and artists.
“One must study the revolutionaries and the crores of Indians who kept this civilization alive generation after generation. From Maharaja Suheldev, Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar, Maharani Lakshmibai, Maharana Pratap, Chhatrapati Shivaji, Guru Gobind Singh and Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya, a long tradition has continued. Revered saints dedicated their entire lives to public welfare,” he added.
The Chief Minister further said that heritage is not confined to any physical object but is also present in our temples, languages, literature, music, art, philosophy, mathematics, science, medicine, astronomical knowledge, and folk and knowledge traditions.
He said that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the double-engine government has added new dimensions to this, including heritage, development, faith, economy, tradition and transformation, along with modernity.
“By developing pilgrimage centres such as Ayodhya, Kashi, Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana, Govardhan, Nandgaon, Baldev, Vindhyachal, Chitrakoot, Shukteerth, Sambhal, Bareilly, Naimisharanya, Sarnath and Kushinagar, we are promoting the cultural and spiritual advancement of the present and future generations,” he said
He said that the changing Uttar Pradesh, better connectivity, strong law and order, and world-class infrastructure are evidenced by the fact that 156 crore tourists visited Uttar Pradesh last year.
CM conveyed a clear message that India would realize the vision of becoming a developed and self-reliant nation only by remaining connected to its heritage.
He emphasized that women, youth, farmers, entrepreneurs, artisans and craftsmen, along with every section of society, must be uplifted for this purpose. CM Yogi remarked that the rule of law is the first condition for this.
The Chief Minister said that devotees, tourists and investors will come only when they have confidence in security.
“Mothers and daughters will step out fearlessly only when they have faith in the administration. During Sawan, 5 crore Kanwar Yatris travelled between Ghaziabad and Haridwar. The number also ran into crores on other routes,” he added.
CM Yogi said that riots used to continue for months in Bareilly. “Rioters were invited to the Chief Minister’s residence and honoured. Riots occurred in Muzaffarnagar, Aligarh, Meerut and Lucknow, but for the past nine and a half years Uttar Pradesh has remained free from curfews and riots. Today, celebration is our identity. Lakhs of devotees now visit Mathura and Vrindavan every day. Grand events such as Rangotsav, Vaishnav Kumbh, Durga Puja, Ram Navami, Deepotsav, Shobha Yatras and Mahakumbh are being organised. Earlier, there was apprehension of disturbances before celebrations; now preparations are made before celebrations. India is now organising the largest gatherings of faith with modern arrangements,” he added.
The Chief Minister said that over the past eight years, the Braj Teerth Vikas Parishad has completed numerous projects worth Rs 1,000 crore. Devotees are being treated with respect through improved security, cleanliness and connectivity.
“Vrindavan, Barsana, Nandgaon, Govardhan, Radha Kund, Gokul, Baldev, Mathura and other areas are being linked with tourism development. The 84 Kosi and Panchkosi Parikrama routes are being developed, and kunds are being restored. If protection is received from the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the area around Shri Banke Bihari Temple will also witness grand development. Through projects such as the ropeway in Vrindavan, mega parking facilities and the Raya Urban Node in Mathura, efforts have begun to lay a strong foundation for the modern future of Braj,” he added.
The CM said that the Surdas Brajbhasha Academy has been established with the objective of preserving Braj culture and promoting Brajbhasha.
“The double-engine government is also preserving, promoting and establishing on the global stage the rich musical and literary heritage of Braj by bringing renowned artists from across the country and abroad onto a common platform. Within the urban limits of Vrindavan itself, Asia’s largest City Forest (Saubhari Van) is being developed over an area of 400 acres.”
The death toll due to devastating flash floods in Nepal surged to 1,259 on Thursday, with over 5,000 still missing as families perform symbolic funeral rites for their relatives after receiving no information about them for days.
The flash floods, triggered by an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26, devastated towns and villages in northern and central Nepal, leaving a trail of destruction.
According to the data released by Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority(NDRRMA), the death toll from the Bhotekoshi River floods surged to 1,259 on Thursday, with 5,083 still missing.
In Paharebesi village of Rasuwa district, residents have begun preparing to perform funeral rites for missing relatives after receiving no information about their whereabouts for eight days, Onlinekhabar news portal reported on Thursday.
In flood-hit areas, families have begun using effigies made of kusha grass to perform the final rites of relatives who remain untraced, amid diminishing hopes of finding them alive, The Kathmandu Post newspaper reported.
Families said they were turning to symbolic funerals because there was little hope of recovering all the missing and because identifying bodies had become increasingly difficult, it said.
According to NDRRMA, 355 bodies have been recovered from Chitawan district, 218 from Nawalparasi East, 212 from Nawalparasi West, including 18 recovered from India and handed over to Nawalparasi West, and 177 from Nuwakot. Similarly, 127 bodies were recovered from Rasuwa district, 72 from Gorkha, 60 from Dhading and 38 from Tahanu.
On the Chinese side, the death toll in the flash flood that struck Gyirong county in Tibet near the Nepal border has increased to 21, with 541 others still missing as of Wednesday.
As the upstream areas of the Bhotekoshi River are continuously receiving rainfall on Thursday, there is the possibility of rising water levels in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers as well as small rivers and rivulets flowing through Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts, said Saraswati Bishta, a technician at the Flood Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology.
The people residing in the surrounding areas and downstream of the river are urged to remain vigilant, she said.
There is a middle-level risk associated with flash floods in rivers situated in various districts, mainly those in the hilly region, including Taplejung, Panchthar, Terhathum, Dhankuta, Sankhuwasabha, Okhaldhunga, Udaypur, Chitwan, Gorkha, Tanahu, Lamjung, Manang, Mustang, Myagdi, Kaski, Syangja, Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur, she said.
Similarly, rivers situated in mountain regions including Kalikot, Humla, Jumla, Dailekh, Darchula, Baitadi and Kalikot districts are also swelling, resulting in some risks associated to flash floods, she added.
Meanwhile, Nepal Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal on Thursday called the massive floods that caused widespread devastation in the country a “Himalayan Tsunami” and thanked neighbouring countries and the international community for their support and solidarity during this difficult period.
Khanal’s comments came days after an interview with a private television channel, in which he identified China, the US, and India as the world’s three largest greenhouse gas emitters and said they have a “historical responsibility to compensate vulnerable nations like Nepal”.
Expressing gratitude to neighbour countries, friendly nations and the international community for their support and solidarity, Khanal said on Thursday that “Nepal will continue close cooperation and collaboration with the international community in this regard.”
Even as international and domestic assistance continues to pour in, schoolchildren in Nepal are doing their bit by donating part of their pocket money to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.
Children from various schools across Nepal are voluntarily donating their snack money or pocket money for the welfare of those affected by the floods.
Meanwhile, the joint rescue teams led by the Nepal Army have continued their search and rescue efforts on the ninth day, on Thursday.
The floods have changed the landscape of the valleys of Rasuwa and Nuwakot, with helicopter pilots relying on their own discipline and judgement to navigate the steep terrain because riverbanks and familiar landmarks have disappeared, the Kathmandu Post newspaper reported.
The tunnel rescue team from India is working with the Nepali army to carry out the rescue operation in Chilime Power House.
Indian envoy on Thursday visited Syabrubesi, the base of the Indian tunnel rescue team, and said that even though the conditions are tough, both Indian and Nepali teams will continue their work ‘undeterred.’
The envoy said that Indian and Nepali teams have already explored 100 metres inside the tunnel using special equipment. “They plan to bring in heavy equipment to further advance into the tunnel,” he said.
Meanwhile, China has rescued 114 Nepalese nationals who were stranded in Tibet after the August 26 flash flood in Rasuwa, and arranged their safe exit to Nepal through the Tatopani border, according to a statement issued by the Home Ministry on Thursday.
They will be transported to Kathmandu and then to their respective destinations by the Nepalese authorities.
According to the Home Ministry, 2,500 Nepalis have already returned to Nepal from Tibet while 1,400 are still waiting for repatriation.
In a related development, a senior Chinese climate official has warned that Glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau are likely to become more unstable, which may lead to more collapses and collateral disasters similar to last week’s deadly flash flood at the Tibet-Nepal border.
“Over the past 60 years, the glacier area on the Tibetan Plateau has shrunk by around 24 per cent, with around 7,000 small glaciers disappearing completely,” said Gao Rong, deputy director of China’s National Climate Centre, an official body of the Chinese government.
“Looking ahead, the structural stability of glaciers across the Tibetan Plateau will decline further. Glacial disasters are likely to become more frequent and could amplify in destruction and reach through cascading effects,” Gao was quoted as saying by the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post.
The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has approved a Rs 245-crore Innovation and Entrepreneurship Doctoral Fellowship Programme to support 150 PhD fellowships and promote problem-driven, application-oriented research.
The AICTE Innovation and Entrepreneurship Doctoral Fellowship Programme (AIEDFP), launched by AICTE Chairman Prof Yogesh Singh in the presence of Member Secretary Prof Shyama Rath and senior officials, will be implemented over five years.
The programme aims to strengthen innovation-driven doctoral research, with a focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, technology transfer, commercialisation and societal impact.
Under the scheme, each fellow will receive Rs 60,000 per month plus applicable House Rent Allowance (HRA) for the first three years and Rs 70,000 per month plus applicable HRA for the following two years, subject to eligibility and satisfactory academic and research progress.
Each scholar may also receive an Innovation Grant of up to Rs 10 lakh for activities including prototype development, testing and validation, field trials, data collection, consumables, travel and other research-related activities aimed at translating research into deployable solutions.
The programme will support both technological and non-technological innovation and encourage multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary research addressing national and global priorities.
It will seek to connect doctoral research with industry and societal challenges and facilitate the progression of promising research outcomes towards higher Technology Readiness Levels.
The programme will also support intellectual property creation, technology transfer and commercialisation. AICTE mechanisms, including KAPILA and YUKTI, may be used for patent filing and innovation translation.
A key component of the programme is collaboration among industry, startups, research organisations, incubators and other stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem. Industry partners and external experts may provide problem statements, infrastructure, datasets and mentorship for application-oriented research.
An all-year-round indoor shooting range has been inaugurated in Leh to provide greater access to the sport and help identify talent in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
The insulated facility, equipped for air rifle and air pistol shooting, has been established by the Ladakh Shooting Association (LSA) in collaboration with the Ladakh Police at the newly built Sports Complex of the police.
The range will be open to students, members of the public and police personnel, providing shooters an opportunity to train locally throughout the year despite the region’s challenging weather conditions.
NRAI president Kalikesh Singh Deo said the facility would help take shooting to the grassroots in Ladakh and provide a pathway for local talent to progress into competitive shooting.
“Ladakh presents its own unique geographical and climatic challenges, and an all-year-round facility like this can make a meaningful difference,” Deo said.
He also thanked the UT administration, Ladakh Police and the LSA for their efforts towards developing shooting in the region.
NRAI secretary general Pawankumar Singh said access to facilities was fundamental to the growth of any sporting ecosystem.
“Opening the range to students, the public and police personnel will help introduce more people to the sport while creating a larger pool from which talent can be identified,” he said.
The LSA and Ladakh Police will oversee the operation of the facility and facilitate its use for training and participation.
The initiative is expected to reduce the need for aspiring shooters from Leh to travel outside the UT for basic training facilities.
The Ladakh administration has also announced its support for developing additional shooting ranges at other districts and locations across the UT, potentially paving the way for a wider shooting network in the region.
Aryans Group of Colleges, Rajpura, near Chandigarh, will organise a Blood Donation Camp on September 9 at the Aryans Campus. The initiative, as per a statement, is aimed at encouraging voluntary blood donation among students, faculty and staff and creating greater awareness about the life-saving importance of blood donation.
Dr. Anshu Kataria, Chairman, Aryans Group, said that the initiative is intended to promote the spirit of voluntary blood donation and sensitise the younger generation towards the importance of maintaining adequate blood availability for patients requiring emergency treatment, surgeries and other critical medical care.
He further stated that a single blood donation can become a valuable contribution towards saving lives.
The Aryans Group has been actively organising blood donation camps since its establishment, making it a consistent part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and community welfare initiatives for the past 20 years. Over the years, these camps have encouraged the college community to come forward and contribute towards meeting the critical demand for blood in hospitals and emergency situations.
New Delhi, Sep 3: India and Belgium on Thursday vowed to expand cooperation in trade, defence, critical minerals, clean energy and technologies following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s wide-ranging talks with his Belgian counterpart Bart De Wever.
In his media statement, Modi highlighted India’s 7.8 percent economic growth in the last quarter and framed the country’s rise as a source of confidence and new opportunities for the world.
The Belgian prime minister described the conclusion of the India-European Union free trade pact as a major milestone and said New Delhi and Brussels are building a relationship that is broad and more strategic than ever before.
“Today, the world is going through a period of great upheaval. Conflicts continue to persist in many parts of the world. Whether it is food, fuel, or supply chains, every sector is being impacted by uncertainty,” PM Modi said.
“In this challenging environment, India’s economy has maintained its momentum. We recorded 7.8 per cent growth in the last quarter. Today, India’s growth story is becoming a source of confidence and new opportunities for the world,” he said.
Modi described the defence and security cooperation between the two countries as a “key pillar” of the overall relationship.
“Today, we agreed to enhance military exchanges and training cooperation between the two countries. The agreements between our governments and defence industries will open up new opportunities for defence co-development and co-production,” he said.
“We will also further strengthen intelligence sharing and cooperation between our agencies in combating crime,” PM Modi said.
He said people-to-people ties between the two nations are the “greatest strength” of the engagement, adding both sides agreed to strengthen connections between start-ups and to enhance capacity building in the maritime sector.
“We will also strengthen university and research cooperation. And, to facilitate talent mobility, we will soon conclude a ‘Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement’,” the PM said.
He once again pitched for resolving the conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia through dialogue and diplomacy.
“India and Belgium, both believe in the rule of law, dialogue, and diplomacy. Be it Ukraine or West Asia, we support all efforts for the early end of conflicts and for peace,” PM Modi said.
He said India and Belgium are committed to eradicating every form of terrorism.
The PM listed the priorities of the two countries to expand cooperation in areas of high technology and clean energy.
“A clean energy future and reliable supply chain are our shared priorities. An MoU signed today on renewable energy will give new momentum to our sustainability cooperation,” he said.
“In critical minerals, we have decided to increase cooperation in processing and recycling. In semiconductors, Belgium’s expertise and India’s scale are complementary to each other,” PM Modi said.
De Wever’s trip builds on the Belgian Economic Mission to India that was led by Princess Astrid in March last year.
Around 40 agreements were signed during the visit of the Belgian Economic Mission.
De Wever’s visit will also reinforce Belgium’s important role in strengthening India-EU relations, said an official.
India and Belgium share historical ties spanning over three centuries.
Belgium was among the first European countries to establish diplomatic relations with independent India, in September 1947.
Belgium is an important economic partner for India in Europe.
Bilateral trade reached USD 13.01 billion in 2025-26.
Diamond trade, with Antwerp as a major global diamond hub, remains a significant component of bilateral commerce.
Belgium is also an important source of investment in India.
FDI inflows from Belgium amounted to approximately USD 4.2 billion between April 2000 and December 2025.
In July, India and Belgium further strengthened their political engagement by establishing a new ministerial-level strategic dialogue.
The inaugural Belgium-India strategic dialogue was held in Brussels on July 15 and it was co-chaired by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prevot.
The dialogue provides a new institutional framework for advancing bilateral cooperation and discussing regional and global issues.
India and Belgium have developed cooperation in renewable energy, clean technologies and sustainability.
Belgian company John Cockerill is building an electrolyzer production facility in Kakinada, with an expected capacity of 2 GW.
Belgium’s position as a major European maritime and logistics hub provides opportunities for cooperation in ports, shipping and supply chains.
Jammu, Sep 3: Sambha district’s Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Anuj Kumar on Thursday called upon village defence guard (VDG) members to set up checkpoints and undertake joint patrolling with police at vulnerable points to strengthen the security grid and prevent any attempts by anti-national and anti-social elements to disturb peace.
VDGs are armed civilian volunteers deployed in vulnerable and border regions to assist security forces in rooting out threats.
Kumar was addressing meetings held at a Border Police Post (BPP) along the International Border in Samba district and at Chilla Danga under the jurisdiction of Police Station Samba, aimed at strengthening police-public relations and enhancing community participation in maintaining peace and security, officials said.
The SSP urged people to remain vigilant and cooperate with police by sharing information regarding drug peddling and other unlawful activities.
He said drug abuse poses a serious threat to society, particularly to the younger generation, and stressed the need for collective efforts by all stakeholders to eradicate the menace.
Kumar warned of strict action against those involved in drug trafficking, bovine smuggling and other criminal activities.
In view of the area’s sensitivity and its past militancy-related incidents, the SSP urged VDG members to remain vigilant and maintain close coordination with police.
Kyiv, Sep 3: India is ready to extend “any help in any manner” to end the Ukraine-Russia war, which is now in its fifth year, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday as he held wide-ranging talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha in Kyiv.
“India has consistently maintained that this is not an era of war, and that solutions will not emerge from the battlefield,” he said in a joint press statement alongside Sybiha after their talks.
Jaishankar recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi just two days ago declared that endless war must now give way to the end of war during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Bishkek on the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.
“Every passing day of conflict only means more deaths and more destruction. Understandably, it is for the parties involved to find a way. But, if India can be of any help in any manner, we are ready,” he said.
India has been consistently calling for ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
Jaishankar later called on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and apprised him of his discussions with the Ukrainian counterpart on deepening bilateral cooperation.
“Our conversation centered on approaches to end the ongoing conflict,” said the minister, who had earlier mentioned that he would convey the greetings and good wishes of PM Modi to the President.
In a post on X, Zelenskyy said he was “grateful to India for its commitment to ending this unjust war.”
“This certainly must not be a time of war. Peace is needed. This is India’s clear position,” he said and hoped that other major world powers would also take a clear stance that this war must end and that a reliable peace must be achieved.
“Of course, we discussed the situation in the Black Sea, including the existing threats to civilian shipping. We concur that it is absolutely unacceptable to block food supplies to regions where this is a highly sensitive issue and where people depend on these maritime routes,” Zelenskyy said.
He said Russia’s actions aimed at blocking Ukrainian ports, its food corridor, and supplies are causing major disruption to global relations. “We must all work together to guarantee security,” he said.
He also added that while the Indian minister was in Kyiv, Russia once again launched jet-powered ‘shaheds.’ “Thanks to our combat aviation, the delegation was safe, because it is Ukrainian fighter jets that shoot down most of these drones,” he added.
Jaishankar, who arrived here amid escalating hostilities between Moscow and Kyiv, said his trip has a “bilateral purpose”.
“But more important, it takes place in the larger context of the war that has been underway since 2022. Only two days ago, an Indian national was also killed in an attack in Kyiv. We join in mourning every life lost and convey our deepest sympathy to every affected family,” he said.
India has also been concerned over a series of attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea in the last few weeks.
Recalling his multiple interactions with the Ukrainian minister in the last few months, Jaishankar said, “Our conversation today was very free and very open.”
“There were also some specific aspects of this conflict that came up in our discussions. Prominent among them was attacks on commercial shipping. Indian seafarers man ships of many flags and have been among the unfortunate casualties,” he said.
He said the impact on shipping is also significantly affecting many nations of the Global South in a variety of ways, leading to fuel, fertiliser and food shortages. “So we exchanged views on these and related matters.”
He also mentioned India’s contribution to humanitarian relief and assistance to Ukraine, including the supply of 19 consignments of humanitarian assistance.
On the bilateral front, Jaishankar said the trade between the two countries spans a wide range of sectors, from pharmaceuticals, food & agriculture and fertilisers to machinery, chemicals and consumer goods.
“Understandably, in the last four years, this trade has seen some disruption due to the war situation and logistical challenges. At the same time, there has been a visible resilience, and some new possibilities have emerged,” he said, adding that they will address the challenges.
“We are very much aware that Ukraine has deep strengths and capabilities. India too is developing at a rapid pace. And some of these notable areas of progress are in digital capabilities, innovation and startups. The world of AI offers new openings in health, education, agriculture, even in governance,” he said.
In a statement, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said that the two ministers discussed in detail peace efforts, the security situation in the Black Sea and freedom of navigation, global food security, nuclear threats posed by Russia, as well as the further development of Ukrainian-Indian relations.
Sybiha stressed that the consequences of Russia’s actions in the Black Sea extend far beyond Ukraine.
“Blocking vital routes for the supply of Ukrainian food threatens millions of people around the world with hunger and crisis. We are grateful to India for its attention and joint efforts to address this problem,” he said, underscoring India’s role as a global power, including in engaging a broader range of countries.
The two ministers separately focused on the peace process and opportunities for India’s more active involvement in international efforts to end the war, it said.
“As Prime Minister Modi recently said in Putin’s presence, it is time to put an end to the endless war. We support this position. Ukraine is ready to end the war, and we have realistic proposals. It is time to move to diplomacy,” Sybiha stressed.
Sybiha noted that trade turnover between Ukraine and India currently stands at USD 2.6 billion and that there is still significant potential for further growth.
“Ukraine regards India as an important partner. We look forward to India’s continued support for the principles of the UN Charter, Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, freedom of navigation and international law,” he stated.
Earlier, the Ukrainian minister welcomed PM Modi’s call to move from an endless war towards an end to the war, saying his country “stands ready for diplomacy.”
Jaishankar invited Sybiha to visit India at his convenience for the next meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission.
He also said that education has been another longstanding area of activity, noting that there are many Indian students currently studying in Ukraine.
In a post on X, Sybiha welcomed Jaishankar to Kyiv for “the first-ever dedicated bilateral visit of an Indian External Affairs Minister to Ukraine.”
“This historic moment takes place amid escalating Russian attacks against our cities, port infrastructure, and civil shipping. Our capital is constantly under attack, and I appreciate my colleague’s brave visit,” he added.
Jaishankar concluded his visit by paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi at the National Botanical Garden in Kyiv. “His life and message underline the need to move from endless war to the end of war,” the minister added.
Srinagar, Sep 3: Security forces on Thursday launched an operation deep inside the forest area of Budgam district in Jammu and Kashmir, officials here said.
The operation was launched based on information about the movement of a suspected group of militants from Pakherpora in Pulwama district towards Yousmarg in Budgam district, the officials said.
Further details of the operation are awaited as the scene of action is a densely forested area where normal communication equipment like cellular phones do not work, they said. (With inputs from PTI)
