The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said that the next annual India-US 2+2 dialogue is unlikely to happen this month. MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told a weekly press briefing that the dates for the inter-ministerial dialogue are still being worked out. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh were earlier expected to travel to the US in December for the dialogue.
“Our dialogue with the US has been quite intense and regular. We look forward to holding the next 2+2 dialogue with the US. Details are being worked out, but we haven’t got a date yet. I don’t think it is going to happen this year,” Bagchi said.
So far, India and the US have held three rounds of dialogue. The first 2+2 dialogue was held in September 2018 while the next two editions were held in December 2019 and October 2020.
India-Central Asia Dialogue in New Delhi
Meanwhile, the MEA spokesperson further informed that EAM S Jaishankar will host a third meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue in New Delhi from December 18 to December 20.
“Foreign Ministers of Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan will participate in the meeting,” Bagchi informed.
He said that as part of the third meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue on December 19, ministers will discuss further strengthening of the relationship. The foreign ministers of the five Central Asian countries are also likely to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Bagchi also informed that the Foreign Affairs Minister of Tajikistan will be on an official visit to the country from December 18 to 20, during which he will hold talks with EAM Jaishankar. “They will discuss bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest,” the MEA spokesperson said.
The MEA spokesperson also touched upon the topic of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.
“We’ll continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. We’re committed to sending 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan. We were in touch with Pakistan authorities on modalities of shipment of this wheat to Afghanistan through land route,” he stated.
