External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday held bilateral discussions with his German counterpart Johann Wadephul in Berlin. The meeting comes as India has started to reach out to international community in the wake of terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam followed by India's Operation Sindoor that targeted Pakistan's terror infrastructure. Addressing a joint briefing with EAM Jaishankar, German Foreign Minister said that India has every right to defend itself against terrorism.
In his remarks on India's Operation Sindoor, Germany's Foreign Minister said, "Germany will support any fight against terrorism. Terrorism must never have a place in the world, anywhere, and this is why we will support everyone who fights and has to fight terrorism."
Germany stands in solidarity with India's right to self-defence
On being asked that the German government did not voice support for India's Operation Sindoor, Jaishankar said, "I think you are misinformed. In fact, we had a conversation on the 7th of May, which is when we initiated our operations. It was a very understanding and positive conversation. And quite honestly, even before that, the German government had expressed solidarity."
"The minister very clearly conveyed Germany's understanding that every nation has a right to defend itself against terrorism," Jaishankar added.
Jaishankar reiterates India's position against terrorism
Jaishankar who is on an official visit to the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany from May 19 to 24 reiterated India's position on zero tolerance against terrorism.
"I came to Berlin in the immediate aftermath of India responding to the Pahalgam terror attack. India has zero tolerance for terrorism. India will never give in to nuclear blackmail, and India will deal with Pakistan purely bilaterally. There should be no confusion in any quarter in that regard. We also value Germany's understanding that every nation has the right to defend itself against terrorism," the EAM said.
Earlier in the day, EAM Jaishankar met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin and conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's best wishes.
Meeting covered wide range of issues
The two foreign ministers discussed a broad range of bilateral matters during their talks.
“Our talks addressed different dimensions of our bilateral cooperation, they ranged from trade to technology and investment, to defence, security, energy, sustainability, mobility of talent and societal exchanges,” Jaishankar said.
From G4 to G20: India-Germany share close ties
Apart from that, they exchanged views on a “wide range of issues, from our immediate neighbourhood to global concerns and challenges, and I want to underline here that Germany for us is a really important partner”, he said, adding, “we cooperate in forums like the G4 to the G20”.
“Germany for India is our largest economic partner in the European Union, in recent years, our cooperation has acquired many more facets and gained much stronger momentum,” he said.
India, Germany likely to sign FTA this year
The EAM said, India deeply values Germany's crucial and invaluable role in “shaping our larger relationship” with the EU.
Observing that Germany has been one of the most consistent and powerful supporters of “rapidly doing a free trade agreement,” Jaishankar said, he is confident that if the two countries can meet the goal of FTA this year, there will be many more doors that will be opened to businesses on both sides.
(With inupts from agencies)
