New Delhi: France is closely following the situation in Kashmir, the French government said on Monday and noted that the issue was discussed during a telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron three days ago.
A statement issued by Élysée Palace said the two leaders discussed the situation in the region of Kashmir in the “spirit of trust and frankness” that characterises bilateral ties.
“In the spirit of trust and frankness that characterises their relations, the French President and the Indian Prime Minister discussed the situation in the region of Kashmir, which France continues to follow closely,” the statement released here by French embassy said.
A statement issued by the Indian government on Friday after talks between Modi and Macron did not mention Kashmir.
“The two leaders exchanged views on a range of issues of mutual interest in bilateral relations as well as regional and global situations,” the statement by PMO said.
Last week, the government took a group of 15 foreign envoys to Jammu and Kashmir to “see the efforts to bring back normalcy in the region” after abrogation of Article 370, the Ministry of External Affairs had said.
Envoys from European countries were not part of the group.
The French statement said Macron and Modi expressed their shared view on the necessity of de-escalation of tension in the Middle East, adding that they agreed to work together towards easing tensions by urging the parties to show restraint and responsibility.
The Middle East is witnessing increasing tension after Maj Gen Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite al-Quds force, was killed in a US drone strike. Iran retaliated by targeting US bases in Iraq with missile attacks.
It said the two leaders expressed their interest in pursuing the strengthening of their partnership in the military and civil nuclear fields as well as enhancing their operational cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
“They reiterated their attachment to the full implementation of the goals defined during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Chantilly on August 22, 2019 and India’s participation in the Biarritz G7 Summit,” it said.
“They agreed on the interest in intensifying ministerial visits in both countries in the course of this year,” the statement said.
Modi visited Chantilly in northern France in August for bilateral talks with Macron, just before the G7 Summit in Biarritz.
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The ever pragmatic French would have been expected to focus on selling another brace of fighter aircraft. Slightly cheaper, since the cost of developing India specific enhancements has been fully recovered. Even so, they discuss Kashmir and mention this in their readout. Underlines how much work lies ahead for our overworked diplomats.