The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) will host its national executive meeting in Delhi on Sunday, with key party leaders expected to participate, including Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The meeting will be held in a ‘hybrid’ format, with some people physically present and others participating virtually.
On Friday, India and France had their second strategic dialogue in Paris, with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Emmanuel Bonne, Diplomatic Advisor to President Emmanuel Macron, discussing Afghanistan, the Indo-Pacific, and maritime security.
NSA Doval is said to have met with French defence minister Florence Parly and foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian during his brief visit to Paris. According to a statement released by the French embassy, the French foreign minister highlighted the objectives in the battle against climate change.
“At his meeting with NSA Ajit Doval on the occasion of the 35th Strategic Dialogue in Paris, French FM @JY_LeDrian stressed France’s commitment to deepening the Indo-French strategic partnership in all its dimensions,” ambassador of France to India Emmanuel Lenain said on Twitter.
At his meeting with NSA Ajit Doval on the occasion of the 35th 🇫🇷🇮🇳 Strategic Dialogue in Paris, French FM @JY_LeDrian stressed France's commitment to deepening the Indo-French strategic partnership in all its dimensions.
Statement⤵ https://t.co/19s4RiO68d— Emmanuel Lenain 🇫🇷🇪🇺 (@FranceinIndia) November 6, 2021
“He emphasised the importance of France and India’s mutual trust, as well as the Indo-French collaboration in working to promote multilateralism and preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law,” according to the statement.
Both countries shared notes on the grave situation in Afghanistan, with France, as part of the European Union, taking a different stance than the United Kingdom, which was a key player in the failed Doha political process with the Taliban leadership. Today, Afghanistan, led by the Taliban and supervised by Pakistan’s ISI, is on the verge of a massive tragedy due to drought-like conditions and a lack of administration. Despite Pakistan, China, Qatar, and Turkey promoting the Taliban administration, no country has recognised it nearly three months after it seized Kabul.
