Ex-Ambassador Jawed Ashraf shares geopolitical insights with defence officers
New Delhi, July 9
Former Ambassador and Chairman of the India Trade Promotion Organisation, Jawed Ashraf, addressed top defence officers over India's foreign policy, emphasising that the purposeful pursuit of national interests in the complex global dynamics may not be easy, but it needs to be done, an official said on Thursday.
Delivering a talk at the 82nd Staff Course conducted under the Ministry of External Affairs' Public Outreach Programme at Defence Services Staff College in Wellington, the IFS officer elaborated on India's foreign policy, its challenges and way ahead.
He underscored the need for India to enable regional stability, maintain its strategic autonomy and balance global engagements while navigating myriad complex geopolitics.
Earlier, Chief of Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth visited forward areas along the Line of Control in Poonch, Rajouri and Sunderbani. He reviewed the prevailing security dynamics along the Line of Control and the counter-insurgency grid, a statement said on social media platform X.
The Army Chief was briefed on the evolving security environment, operational deployments, surveillance architecture, field innovations and integrated operational readiness.
He also assessed the ongoing infrastructure development and the formation's sustained efforts to empower the communities of India's first villages through people-centric initiatives.
General Seth commended all ranks for their operational excellence and unwavering commitment and exhorted them to remain mission-focused, operationally agile and continue striving for excellence.
In a separate development, the Indian Army joined rescue operations following the building collapse at the Waste-to-Energy project site in Moshi of Pune's Pimpri Chinchwad on Wednesday, said a Defence Ministry official on social media.
After the incident, the Indian Army's Southern Command responded promptly to the requisition from the state administration and deployed Army rescue, engineer and medical teams for assistance, the official added.
Operating in close coordination with NDRF, Fire Service, Police and civil administration, the Army teams supported search and rescue efforts, debris clearance and on-site medical aid in challenging conditions even as rescue teams continued to look for victim under the debris, the official said.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good to see the Army Chief visiting forward areas at LoC. The security situation in J&K needs constant attention. But I wish the article also mentioned what concrete steps are being taken for the local population there - development and security must go hand in hand.
Interesting how India balances its relationships with Russia, US, and China simultaneously. As someone watching from abroad, it's fascinating to see a nation maintain its own path without aligning fully with any bloc. The term 'strategic autonomy' perfectly captures this approach.
The Pune building collapse rescue operation shows why our Army is truly the best - always ready to help civilians in distress. From guarding borders to saving lives in disasters, they do it all. Salute to the soldiers working in those challenging conditions! 🙏
While I appreciate the focus on national interests, I hope our foreign policy also prioritises climate change cooperation and global health. These are issues that affect everyone regardless of borders. The 'way ahead' should include more multilateral engagement on such pressing matters.
It's encouraging to see the Army also focused on community empowerment in border villages. True security isn't just about military readiness but also about winning hearts and minds. Hope these 'people-centric initiatives' get more coverage and resources! 😊
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.