Jaishankar holds key talks as regional crises test Indian diplomacy

S Jaishankar met three foreign counterparts as India pursued wider diplomatic engagement. Regional tensions and emergencies involving Indians abroad underscored mounting international challenges.Stock photo used for illustrationNewdelhi,Nov 1, 2026 21:10 ISTExternal Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held separate meetings with his Russian, Polish and South Korean counterparts in the United States, discussing the Ukraine conflict, the situation in West Asia, bilateral relations and multilateral issues, news agency Press Trust of India reported.Other developments included National Security Advisor Ajit Doval's visit to Vietnam, flight disruptions between India and Saudi Arabia, rescue efforts for six Indian tourists stranded in Nepal and protests by garment workers in Bangladesh.Jaishankar also unveiled a bust of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at the Consulate General of India in Atlanta on the occasion of Patel's birth anniversary, PTI reported.In China, the Indian Consulate in Shanghai is conducting a month-long special campaign to prioritise the timely resolution of consular issues faced by members of the Indian diaspora within its jurisdiction. Doval arrived in Vietnam on Sunday for an official visit. He is scheduled to hold talks with the country's leadership to deepen bilateral ties.Flight disruptions between India and Saudi Arabia continued amid security concerns. Akasa Air on Sunday extended the suspension of its services to Jeddah until November 18. The airline said its flights to and from Riyadh would remain suspended until November 30. Six Indian tourists, including two women, have been stranded in Nepal's Shey-Phoksundo National Park area since Saturday afternoon because of heavy snowfall. Officials told PTI on Sunday that security personnel had been deployed and rescue efforts were under way.The Sri Lanka Navy on Sunday detained seven Indian fishermen and seized their trawler for allegedly fishing illegally in the island nation's territorial waters.Pakistan warned Afghanistan that it reserved the right to take all necessary measures to eliminate cross-border terror threats. It said terrorism remained a "red line" and that its national security could not be held hostage to the Taliban regime's "inaction".In Bangladesh, garment workers staged protests in Gazipur and Dhaka on Sunday over their longstanding demand for higher pay. The government subsequently announced the formation of a wage board, according to local media reports.The developments covered India's diplomatic engagements abroad, consular and travel-related concerns, the rescue of stranded tourists, the detention of fishermen, regional security tensions and workers' demand for higher wages.With PTI Inputs- Ends