Foreign & Public Diplomacy

Welcome to Foreign Policy’s South Asia Brief.

The highlights this week: Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar leads the delegation to the United Nations General Assembly for the second year in a row, three sisters of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan are arrested ahead of nationwide protests, and Bangladesh and India plan to resume cross-border train service.

Welcome to Foreign Policy’s South Asia Brief.

The highlights this week: Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar leads the delegation to the United Nations General Assembly for the second year in a row, three sisters of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan are arrested ahead of nationwide protests, and Bangladesh and India plan to resume cross-border train service.

What’s on India’s Agenda at UNGA?

With all that is on the agenda at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) here in New York—the wars in Iran and Ukraine, energy security, and climate change, to name a few—it’s not a surprise that the activities of India’s top diplomat are flying below the radar.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is leading India’s delegation to UNGA instead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the second year in a row. He appears in New York at a pivotal moment for the country’s foreign policy, with opportunities to advance key interests.

India, impelled by one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies, continues to shine on the global stage. In recent months, it has signed and implemented new trade deals with the European Union and United Kingdom, maintained a cautious rapprochement with China, and hosted a BRICS leaders’ summit that produced a joint declaration despite a fractious membership.

But India is also grappling with challenges, from its continued tensions with the United States to Pakistan’s deepening presence in the Middle East.

Indeed, Jaishankar’s most urgent priority at UNGA is to seek out U.S. officials to secure assurances on new U.S. legislation authorizing President Donald Trump’s White House to impose up to 100 percent tariffs on countries, including India, that buy Russian oil. Jaishankar reiterated India’s concerns to........

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