Kirti Vardhan Singh meets UN Chief Guterres at IMRF sidelines in New York
Synopsis
India's MoS External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh held a string of high-level meetings in New York — including with UN Secretary-General Guterres — while also leading a commemoration of Operation Sindoor's first anniversary at India's UN Mission, blending migration diplomacy with a pointed counter-terrorism message on the global stage.
Key Takeaways
Kirti Vardhan Singh met UN Secretary-General António Guterres on the sidelines of the Second IMRF in New York on 8 May .
Singh addressed the IMRF plenary and hosted a reception for heads of delegations at India's UN Mission .
He led a commemoration of the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor , reaffirming India's counter-terrorism resolve.
Bilateral meetings were held with Philippines, Ecuador, EU, and Netherlands officials on migration and mobility cooperation.
The India-EU Legal Gateway Office in the ICT sector was highlighted as a key milestone in mobility cooperation.
India's Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh met with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on the sidelines of the Second International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) in New York on 8 May, discussing issues of mutual concern between India and the UN.
What Was Discussed
Following the meeting, Singh posted on social media platform X: "Had a productive meeting with Secretary General of United Nations HE Mr. Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the IMRF." While specific agenda items were not publicly disclosed, the meeting took place in the context of global migration governance and India's active engagement with UN frameworks.
India's Presence at the IMRF
Singh led India's delegation at the UN's Second International Migration Review Forum, addressing the plenary session and subsequently hosting a reception at India's UN Mission for heads of delegations. The forum serves as the primary intergovernmental platform for reviewing progress on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.
Operation Sindoor Commemoration
On the sidelines of the forum, Singh also led a commemoration marking the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, which India has described as a decisive response to Pakistan's alleged support for terrorism. Paying tribute at India's UN Mission, he stated that "India's resolve to fight terrorism remained as strong as ever." The event honoured "the bravery and professionalism of our armed forces, which is unparalleled," according to remarks at the commemoration.
Key Bilateral Meetings
Singh held a series of bilateral engagements on the forum's sidelines. On Monday, he met Philippines Secretary for Migrant Workers Hans Leo Cacdac to discuss collaboration on mobility and migration. He also met Ecuador's Deputy Minister of Human Mobility Saul Pacurucu, with discussions centred on strengthening cooperation on safe, orderly and regular migration and bilateral issues of mutual interest.
On Tuesday, Singh met European Union Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner, reviewing progress under the India-EU comprehensive framework on cooperation in mobility and the recently launched Legal Gateway Office in the ICT sector. He also held talks with Netherlands Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Asylum and Migration Bart Van Den Brink on migration collaboration.
What's Next
India's active participation across multiple bilateral and multilateral tracks at the IMRF signals a deepening diplomatic push on migration governance, as the Centre seeks to expand legal mobility pathways for Indian workers abroad while reinforcing its counter-terrorism messaging on the global stage.
Point of View
Timed to the IMRF, is a deliberate move to internationalise India's counter-terrorism narrative at a multilateral venue. Meanwhile, the flurry of bilateral migration meetings — EU, Philippines, Ecuador, Netherlands — reflects India's strategic interest in expanding legal mobility corridors for its workforce. The two tracks are not unrelated: India is effectively telling the world it is a responsible, rules-based partner on migration while simultaneously demanding accountability on cross-border terrorism. Whether that dual messaging lands coherently at the UN will depend on how these bilateral commitments translate into verifiable agreements.
NationPress
9 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Kirti Vardhan Singh meet UN Secretary-General Guterres?
Singh met Guterres on the sidelines of the Second International Migration Review Forum in New York on 8 May to discuss issues of mutual concern between India and the United Nations. The specific agenda was not publicly detailed beyond Singh's social media post describing it as a 'productive meeting'.
What is the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF)?
The IMRF is the primary intergovernmental platform for UN member states to review and discuss progress on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. The Second IMRF was held in New York in May 2025, with India represented by MoS External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh.
What is Operation Sindoor and why was it commemorated at the UN?
Operation Sindoor is described by India as a decisive military response to Pakistan's alleged support for terrorism. Singh led a commemoration of its first anniversary at India's UN Mission in New York, using the occasion to reaffirm India's counter-terrorism resolve on a global platform.
Which countries did India hold bilateral migration talks with at the IMRF?
India held bilateral migration and mobility discussions with the Philippines, Ecuador, the European Union, and the Netherlands on the sidelines of the IMRF. Topics included safe and regular migration, mobility partnerships, and the India-EU Legal Gateway Office in the ICT sector.
What is the India-EU Legal Gateway Office in the ICT sector?
The Legal Gateway Office in the ICT sector is a recently launched initiative under the India-EU comprehensive framework on cooperation in mobility, aimed at facilitating legal migration pathways for Indian technology workers to the European Union. It was highlighted during Singh's meeting with EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner.
