India’s approach to oil purchase to be guided by energy security: MEA

India on Thursday said that its approach and policy on the oil purchase issue is guided by national interests and the country’s energy security requirements.

“We have consistently maintained that our approach is guided by our energy security requirements,” MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told reporters on whether India is looking to increase oil imports from Russia.

He further said: “You would note that many regions and countries have taken policy decisions recently with a similar perspective. We would like to reiterate that this is not an India related issue at all”.

To a series of questions from media personnel on the visit of India’s official team for reviewing relief works and developmental projects in Afghanistan, he said – JP Singh, Joint Secretary head the team
in MEA heading the ‘Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran’ division.

It’s a multi-member team, he said but hastened to add: “I am unable to share the composition of the team”

But he said – “the team is of relevant officials who are required to vis-a-vis the purpose of humanitarian assistance”.

To a question, he said, – Of course security is an issue and it is on focus and as the Indian team has gone there, security issues will be handled. But he said, no further details could be disclosed.

He maintained that the team will visit projects that India has been funding.

“….whether the team will visit only Kabul or even go outside…let me avoid responding to those specific matters,” Mr Bagchi maintained.

India has already dispatched several shipments of humanitarian assistance consisting of 20,000 MTs of wheat, 13 tons of medicines, 500,000 doses of COVID Vaccine and winter clothing.

These consignments were handed over to the India Gandhi Children Hospital, Kabul and UN specialized agencies including WHO and WFP.

India is also in the process of shipping more medical assistance and foodgrains to Afghanistan, the MEA said in a release earlier in the day.

“In continuation with the developmental partnership with Afghan brethren, India has gifted one million doses of India-made COVAXIN to Iran to administer to Afghan refugees in Iran,” the release said.

On border talks with China, the MEA spokesman said – “We look forward to the next (16th) round of Senior Commanders’ meeting at an early date”.