India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Wednesday spoke about the steps taken by the Indian government to address issues in Kashmir, including the removal of Article 370, restoring economic growth, and holding high-turnout elections. He also discussed the perspectives of BRICS member countries on the role of the US dollar in the international economy. Jaishankar made these remarks during his address at Chatham House in the United Kingdom.
On the topic of Kashmir, Jaishankar expressed confidence in the progress made so far. “In Kashmir, we have done a good job solving most of it. I think removing Article 370 was one step. Then, restoring growth, economic activity, and social justice in Kashmir was step number two. Holding elections, which were done with a very high turnout, was step number three. I think the part we are waiting for is the return of the stolen part of Kashmir, which is under illegal Pakistani occupation. When that’s done, I assure you, Kashmir solved,” he stated.
Jaishankar also addressed several other global issues, including India’s relationship with China, the internationalization of the Indian Rupee, and the role of the dollar in the global financial system. Clarifying India’s position on the dollar’s dominance, he remarked, “I don’t think there’s any policy on our part to replace the dollar. At the end of the day, the dollar as the reserve currency is a source of international economic stability. And right now, what we want in the world is more economic stability, not less.”
He noted the diversity of opinions among BRICS nations on the issue. “I don’t think there’s a unified BRICS position on this. BRICS members—and now that we have more members—have very diverse positions on this matter. So the assumption that there is a united BRICS position against the dollar is not borne out by facts,” he explained.
Emphasizing India’s strategic priorities, Jaishankar added, “We believe that working with the United States and strengthening the international financial and economic system should be the priority. Both our strategic assessment and our sense of what the international economy requires today will guide our thinking on this matter.”
Jaishankar’s visit to the United Kingdom and Ireland, running from March 4 to 9, aims to strengthen India’s bilateral ties with both nations. According to a Ministry of External Affairs release, India and the UK share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, deepening cooperation in sectors like defense and security, trade and economy, health, education, and cultural exchange.
