External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called the attack on the Indian consulate in San Francisco in 2023 a “very serious” matter. He said India expects accountability for the attack that was carried out by a group of assailants who damaged public property and attacked officials of the Consulate in March.
“The arson attack on our consulate in San Francisco is a very, very serious matter, and it is something for which we expect accountability. We would like to see that people who did it are held responsible,” Jaishankar said at a press conference in Washington DC.
Some attackers had also tried to set the Consulate building on fire on the same day with the use of some inflammable substances.
The External Affairs Minister said he had a brief discussion on Bangladesh with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio but didn’t share any further details. “We had a brief discussion on Bangladesh…I don’t think it’s appropriate. I get into more details,” he said.
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Attack On Indian Consulate In US
The protesters, raising pro-Khalistan slogans, broke open the makeshift security barriers raised by the city police and installed two ‘Khalistani flags’ inside the Consulate premises. Two consulate personnel soon removed these flags.
Soon thereafter, a group of angry protesters entered the consulate premises and started hitting the door and windows with the iron rods.
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The US had condemned the attack saying vandalism is just absolutely unacceptable.
No Talks With Pak On Resumption Of Trade: EAM
Jaishankar said there have been no talks with Pakistan on resumption of trade with India.
“After last year, there have been no talks with Pakistan on trade, nor has any initiative come from their side,” Jaishankar said in response to a question.
He said India never stopped trade with Pakistan, and the decision in this regard was taken by the Pakistan government in 2019.
“From the very beginning, our interest was that India should get the status of the most favoured nation. We used to give MFN status to Pakistan. But they did not grant the same status to us,” Jaishankar said.
Jaishankar In US
Jaishankar represented Prime Minister Narendra Modi as his Special Envoy at the inaugural function of President Donald Trump in Washington DC. He carried a letter from PM Modi for the US President. Jaishankar also participated in the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Washington DC and held a separate meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The External Affairs Minister said that India and the US have a strong degree of trust and a high level of convergence of interests.
