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Top government sources sought to clear air hours after Austin’s statement that the only time the issue of minorities was raised during the meeting was when India raised it in the context of Afghanistan. ET has learnt that Jaishankar raised the issue of protection of minorities and women as negotiations for political settlement on Afghanistan gathers pace.
On Austin’s part he made generic reference to human rights as democracies that India and the USA should respect. India concurred with this.
Confusion created by Austin’s statement to the media took Delhi by surprise as neither the content, tone nor the tenor of the conversation focused on the issue.
Austin was the first member of the Biden administration to visit India since the January 20 inauguration and met PM Narendra Modi, NSA Ajit Doval and the Defence Minister.
Speaking to a select group of media on Saturday evening following his meeting Austin said he had a conversation with Indian ministers about the human rights of minorities in the country as it was important for partners to have “those kinds of discussions”.
Asked if he had spoken with Modi about “violations of human rights especially against Muslim minorities in the northeast”, General Austin said, “I did not have an opportunity to talk with him about that. I did have a conversation with other members of the cabinet on this issue.”
“We have to remember that India is our partner, a partner whose partnership we value. And I think partners need to be able to have those kinds of discussions. And certainly, we feel comfortable doing that. And you can have those discussions in a very meaningful way and make progress,” he added.
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