4 years of Modi govt: When MEA provided healing touch to Indians trapped abroad

The Ministry for External Affairs has been in the news for long. In the run-up to the fourth year in office, the Ministry has faced several challenges and the toughest being bringing Indians back from war torn areas.

The Ministry under Sushma Swaraj and ensured the evacuation of over 10,000 Indians who were trapped abroad. In addition to this, the Foreign Ministry also was kept busy with the Doklam standoff which was resolved. Swaraj said that there was no change in status quo at the Doklam face-off site.

She asserted that a major outcome of last month's informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping was enhancing of mutual trust between the two countries.

Swaraj, addressing a press conference to mark the fourth anniversary of the NDA government, said there were apprehensions that the Doklam standoff would not be resolved without the two neighboring countries going to war. However, she said both sides managed to resolve it through dialogue and diplomacy.

"The global community appreciated India for being able to resolve the Doklam standoff with China through dialogue and diplomacy," she said.

Swaraj said there were apprehensions that the standoff would not be resolved without the two neighbouring countries going to war.

"There has been no change in the situation at the Doklam faceoff site. Status quo is continuing," Swaraj said, replying to a question on the issue.

Asked about reports that some devotees at Kailash Mansarovar in China were not being allowed to take a holy dip in the lake there, Swaraj said it was not correct. She said there has been a designated area for taking holy dip in the lake and it continues to be so.

"There is always a designated place where any devotee can take a bath. You cannot take bath in any part of lake," she said. Swaraj said the informal summit between Modi and Xi was very successful as all its aims were achieved.

"The aim of the informal summit was to improve easiness in ties, enhance mutual understanding between the two countries on global issues and improve mutual trust. And we achieved all these three objectives," she said. Swaraj said Xi had told Modi to call him up whenever he wants to talk to him. Prime Minister Modi also told the Chinese president that whenever he wants know his views on any issue, he can call him up, she said.

Evacuations during crisis:

• During 2014, 1,100 persons from Ukraine, 3,750 from Libya and 7,200 from Iraq were evacuated.
• During 2015, 6,710 persons (4,748 Indians) from Yemen and during 2016, 153 Indians from South Sudan were evacuated.
• During 2016 from Saudi Arabia, more than 1,500 Indians repatriated following resolution of labour issues

Bringing back pastors and Imans:

• Father Alex Prem Kumar & Judith D'Souza released from Afghanistan.
• Sister Sally- an Indian national from Kerala was rescued from Yemen.
• Clerics Syed Asif Ali Nizami and his nephew Nazim Ali Nizami return from Pakistan

E-Visa Facility for more than 180 countries.