How Does Germany Support India's Struggle Against Terrorism?

New Delhi, Sep 3 (NationPress) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar expressed on Wednesday that India holds substantial appreciation for Germany's comprehension of its battle against terrorism. The EAM pointed out that Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has been clear in acknowledging India's right to protect its citizens from terrorist threats.

During a press briefing alongside Wadephul after their meeting in New Delhi, EAM Jaishankar reminisced about Germany's warm reception of India's parliamentary delegation in June, following the significant Operation Sindoor.

"Today, we engaged in comprehensive discussions covering various facets of our relationship. This encompasses our political collaboration, security and defense, economic ties, research and emerging technologies, climate and energy, as well as education, skill development, mobility, and interpersonal exchanges. I would like to highlight some key outcomes from our discussions. Firstly, we value the understanding that Germany has demonstrated regarding India's fight against terrorism. Minister Wadephul has explicitly supported our right to defend our citizens against terrorist threats. Additionally, the parliamentary delegation that visited Germany in June after Operation Sindoor was also warmly welcomed," he stated.

Operation Sindoor was initiated on May 7, following the tragic April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of 26 innocent individuals. The operation involved coordinated efforts from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force in a punitive strike across the Line of Control into Pakistani-occupied territories, targeting the dismantling of terror infrastructure at its roots.

EAM Jaishankar underscored the recent increase in India-Germany defense and security collaboration and recalled Germany's involvement in the Tarang Shakti exercises. The External Affairs Minister noted that both he and Wadephul agreed on the continuation and expansion of such collaboration.

"Our defense and security cooperation has seen a notable increase. Germany participated in the Tarang Shakti air exercises last year, and its naval vessels made port calls in Goa. Today, we concurred that such involvement should not only continue but also be enhanced. Previously, we encountered significant export control challenges in the defense and security sector. I would like to express my gratitude for the streamlining of these processes and quicker clearances. We also discussed the potential for greater industrial collaboration between our two nations in this regard," he added.

Reflecting on his conversation with Wadephul, Jaishankar remarked, "We have just concluded a highly productive discussion on India-Germany cooperation, our relations with the European Union, and exchanged perspectives on regional, global, and multilateral issues. Before diving into these subjects, I want to publicly welcome my friend Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who is visiting for the first time in his current role. I had the honor of being his guest this May, and since then, we have maintained regular communication. I first met him at the Munich Security Conference well before he assumed the role of Foreign Minister, and I was genuinely impressed by his dedication to strengthening the India-Germany strategic partnership. I am confident that he will channel that enthusiasm into his new position.

"We held detailed discussions on our bilateral agenda as we prepare for the next round of Inter-Governmental Consultations in India. We explored opportunities for greater collaboration in industry linkages, talent mobility, digital advancements, semiconductors, and critical technologies. I appreciate Germany’s strong advocacy for closer India-EU relations and the proactive push for concluding the FTA. We also exchanged insights on our multilateral cooperation and global challenges, including the conflict in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East/West Asia, and developments in the Indo-Pacific," the EAM posted on X following his discussions with the visiting German Foreign Minister.