Jaishankar said that India seeks friendship with as many countries as possible.
External affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Saturday said that “friendships are no longer exclusive”, referring to the emerging multipolar world. He added that India is positioning itself as a “Vishwamitra” and seeks friendship with as much countries as possible.
“What is perceived as freedom by one nation can be viewed as interference by another and emphasised that sensibilities regarding sovereignty and territorial integrity remain crucial in evaluating international partnerships,” ANI quoted Jaishankar as saying.
“Some friends may also be more complicated than others. They may not always share the same culture of mutual respect or ethos of diplomatic etiquette. We have, from time to time, seen comments on our domestic issues,” the minister added.
“However, the same courtesies are rarely accorded to the other side. What is freedom for one can apparently become interference from the other. The fact is that sensitivities like sovereignty and territorial integrity will always be a factor in evaluating partners,” Jaishankar said.
‘India not a dogmatic civilisation’: Jaishankar
Asserting that India is not a “dogmatic civilisation”, Jaishankar said that India seeks friendship with as many countries as possible.
“India is today positioning itself as a Vishwamitra. We seek to be friends with as many as possible… If you look deeper, there are cultural and historical factors at work as well, including the fact that we are not a dogmatic civilisation.”
“There is a capability aspect as well, which accounts for the self-confidence with which we approach the world,” he said.
Jaishankar said that there were cultural and historical factors to develop such friendships, including the fact that India was not a “dogmatic civilisation.”