External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday spoke on various issues ranging from India and Pakistan relationship, PM Narendra Modi’s Nepal visit to Indians stranded in Iraq.
Begining with the Indo-Pak ties, the Union Minister said that both the countries have supported each other during difficult times, irrespective of the bitterness in relationship.
Citing example of Peshawar terror attack, Sushma said, “PM Modi called up Nawaz Sharif assuring that India is with them (Pakistan) in the hour of need,”
Talking about the stalled dialogue process between the two countries, she made it clear that India is ready to solve all issues in a peaceful manner, adding to that, “no third party will be involved in the dialogue between India and Pakistan.” Third point she made while talking about the dialoogue process was that the talks should take place in a non-violent zone.
Coming on the issue of Indians strnaded in Iraq, which in recently had conflicting versions from a survior and the government, the minister reiterated India’s stand that the stranded Indians are alive.
“It’s true that 1 person who fled from Iraq says all the captives are dead. But I have 8 sources that confirm that those Indians are alive. I’m not conducting this search operation only as my duty,” Sushma said.
Touching on the issue of PM Modi’s Nepal visit, she said, “From the last 15 years no Indian prime minister had visited Nepal. No Foreign Minister had been a part of the JCM in Nepal for nearly 23 years.”
While talking about the prime minister’s foriegn visit, Sushma told that Modi will be visiting Israel this year and that the time and date of it hasn’t been finalised yet.
