Our forces can go to all patrolling points in Depsang: EAM to Tewari
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said India’s relations with its neighbours were stable and not driven by point-scoring.
Responding to Congress MP Manish Tewari during the Lok Sabha question hour, Jaishankar addressed questions about India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy. Tewari had raised concerns, citing developments such as the Maldives’ “oust-India” campaign, Nepal’s alignment with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Sri Lanka’s debt held by China, Sino-Bhutan border talks and internal turmoil in Bangladesh.
Jaishankar countered by asserting that India’s ties with most neighbours were stronger than before. “If there is an attempt to portray the government’s foreign policy in a negative light for political reasons that is the member’s privilege. However, I do not believe in making foreign policy a partisan issue,” he said.
The minister highlighted progress in regional relations, pointing to numerous development projects, trade growth and diplomatic exchanges. “Our neighbours have their domestic politics, and while there are ups and downs, we handle these maturely without engaging in point-scoring,” he added.
Jaishankar noted, “Before PM Modi’s visit to Nepal, there had been no Indian PM visit in 17 years. Similarly, there were no bilateral visits to Sri Lanka for 30 years before PM Modi’s visit. Our government has prioritised these ties.”
He highlighted key achievements, such as the inauguration of a major project in the Maldives to provide water and sewage facilities for 24 islands. “The Maldives President attended our government’s oath-taking ceremony, which is significant compared to 2012, when Indian companies were driven out of the Maldives. Similarly, under the UPA, Sri Lanka allowed China to build a major port, Bangladesh supported terrorists and Myanmar hosted insurgent groups targeting India,” he remarked.
On Tewari’s query about Indian access to patrolling points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Jaishankar confirmed the completion of disengagement agreements in Depsang and Demchok. “Indian security forces will patrol to the eastward limits, which have historically been our patrol points. These agreements also include temporary mutual restraints, as detailed in my statement to Parliament,” he added.
