Astana [Kazakhstan] External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday said he clearly and firmly raised the issue of Indians stranded in the Russia-Ukraine conflict zone with his counterpart Sergey Lavrov during a bilateral meeting in Asthana, Kazakhstan.
On whether he raised the issue of stranded Indians with Lavrov, Jaishankar told ANI: "Very clearly and firmly... several Indians have been pressed into service with the Russian army. Only when they return will we know all the circumstances. But whoever Whatever the circumstances, it is unacceptable for us that Indian citizens find themselves in another country's army in a war zone. I told him that we seek their cooperation and that they are our friends and partners. We have to find a way for these people. "We can return to India as quickly and effectively as possible."
EAM elaborated and said that Foreign Minister Lavrov appreciated the point and that the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has been talking to the Russian Defense Ministry in this regard.
"I urged him that we need a much stronger follow-up. I have embraced that and I intend to continue to do so until all of our people return," he said.
Jaishankar also shared his view on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Russia and termed it as a great opportunity for both the leaders to sit down and talk directly about the growing economic relationship between the two countries.
"There was a small delay in our annual summits, it is a good tradition, we are two countries that have a strong history of working together. We value the need for an annual summit. Last year, when I went to Moscow, I carried a message from the prime minister that we are committed to the annual summit and that we will do it sooner... it is a regular repetition. It is a way to take stock of any relationship... one of the biggest changes has been "Our economic relationship with Russia has grown. enormously...at the leadership level, it will be a great opportunity for Prime Minister Modi and (Russian) President Putin to sit down and talk directly to each other," Jaishankar said.
In particular, about 20 people were allegedly tricked into fighting for the Russian army in the war against Ukraine under the pretext of performing lucrative jobs. At least two Indians have died.
The MEA confirmed in April that among Indian nationals working as support personnel in the Russian army, 10 had returned to India.
Earlier this year, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) busted a major country-wide human trafficking network that targeted Indian nationals with the promise of offering them lucrative jobs abroad but allegedly sending them to the war zone between Russia and Ukraine.
On whether he raised the issue of stranded Indians with Lavrov, Jaishankar told ANI: "Very clearly and firmly... several Indians have been pressed into service with the Russian army. Only when they return will we know all the circumstances. But whoever Whatever the circumstances, it is unacceptable for us that Indian citizens find themselves in another country's army in a war zone. I told him that we seek their cooperation and that they are our friends and partners. We have to find a way for these people. "We can return to India as quickly and effectively as possible."
EAM elaborated and said that Foreign Minister Lavrov appreciated the point and that the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has been talking to the Russian Defense Ministry in this regard.
"I urged him that we need a much stronger follow-up. I have embraced that and I intend to continue to do so until all of our people return," he said.
Jaishankar also shared his view on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Russia and termed it as a great opportunity for both the leaders to sit down and talk directly about the growing economic relationship between the two countries.
"There was a small delay in our annual summits, it is a good tradition, we are two countries that have a strong history of working together. We value the need for an annual summit. Last year, when I went to Moscow, I carried a message from the prime minister that we are committed to the annual summit and that we will do it sooner... it is a regular repetition. It is a way to take stock of any relationship... one of the biggest changes has been "Our economic relationship with Russia has grown. enormously...at the leadership level, it will be a great opportunity for Prime Minister Modi and (Russian) President Putin to sit down and talk directly to each other," Jaishankar said.
In particular, about 20 people were allegedly tricked into fighting for the Russian army in the war against Ukraine under the pretext of performing lucrative jobs. At least two Indians have died.
The MEA confirmed in April that among Indian nationals working as support personnel in the Russian army, 10 had returned to India.
Earlier this year, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) busted a major country-wide human trafficking network that targeted Indian nationals with the promise of offering them lucrative jobs abroad but allegedly sending them to the war zone between Russia and Ukraine.
