US secretary of state Antony Blinken stated that there are few relationships more vital than the one between India and the United States. At a joint press conference after India-US delegation-level talks, Blinken said the Covid-19 hit both countries very hard and the US will not forget the aid and assistance India provided early in the pandemic. Blinken further said, “I am proud we could return the gesture to India,”
The top US diplomat said that the two sides discussed regional security issues including Afghanistan, echoing Jaishankar’s remark that there was much more convergence on the matter than divergence. Blinken stressed that both sides are committed to the proposition that there is no military solution to the conflict.
“There has to be a peaceful resolution that requires the Taliban and the Afghan government to come to the table and we both agree, I think, strongly that any future government in Afghanistan has to be inclusive and fully representative of Afghan people,” said Blinken, adding that it has to be “Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process.”
Jaishankar acknowledged Biden’s administration response in keeping the raw materials supply chain open for vaccine production in India and thanked the US for the “exceptional” support during the second Covid wave.
The two sides, Jaishankar said, also discussed the travel challenges resulting from Covid-19 and the minister appreciated the US for being “very forthcoming” on the travel issues related to students. He added that India hopes the US will take a “sympathetic view” of other travellers as well in the days to come.
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