As situation remains tense in strife-torn Sudan causing concern about safety of Indian nationals there, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is expected to meet United Nations Secretary General António Guterres in New York. Moreover, some plans are being worked out on evacuating Indians from Sudan but it will depend on ground situation, the Ministry of External Affairs(MEA)said here on Thursday.
In a related development, Jaishankar discussed the situation in Sudan with the Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. “Deeply value his assessments and insights, as also his very helpful attitude. Agreed to remain in close touch,” he tweeted. Earlier, Jaishankar early Wednesday talked to his counterparts of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates(UAE)on the issue.
Elaborating upon the current position in Sudan, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said here on Thursday the ground situation in Sudan is very “tense” and India is in touch with various countries with a key focus on ensuring the safety of Indians in the violence-hit country. He also said New Delhi is keeping a close watch on developments in Sudan adding the safety and security of the Indians is our key focus.
Bagchi also said Jaishankar is expected to meet the UN Secretary-General in New York on the situation in Sudan. Asked whether India is looking at evacuating the Indians in Sudan, he said some plans are being worked out but it will depend on the ground situation.
He also said the Indian embassy in Khartoum is open, functioning and rendering all services with officials working from separate locations. Nobody is inside the Embassy building right now, Bagchi said.