India’s Proximity Archives
Date: April 23, 2025
South Asia
A terrorist attack on April 22nd in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, claimed the lives of 28 tourists. Responsibility for the attack was claimed by The Resistance Front, a group affiliated with Lashkar-e-Tayyaba. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who were on official visits to Saudi Arabia and the U.S., respectively, shortened their trips and returned. After arriving in Delhi from Riyadh on April 23, Prime Minister Modi met with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at the airport to assess the situation. In the aftermath of the attack, Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Srinagar. The attack drew condemnation from world leaders. Concurrently, two terrorists were eliminated during an attempted incursion from Pakistan across the Line of Control near Uri on April 23.
A terrorist attack on April 22nd in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, claimed the lives of 28 tourists. Responsibility for the attack was claimed by The Resistance Front, a group affiliated with Lashkar-e-Tayyaba. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who were on official visits to Saudi Arabia and the U.S., respectively, shortened their trips and returned. After arriving in Delhi from Riyadh on April 23, Prime Minister Modi met with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at the airport to assess the situation. In the aftermath of the attack, Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Srinagar. The attack drew condemnation from world leaders. Concurrently, two terrorists were eliminated during an attempted incursion from Pakistan across the Line of Control near Uri on April 23.
Southeast Asia
On April 21, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Defense Minister Dong Jun co-chaired the First Ministerial Meeting of China-Indonesia Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue with Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono and Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin. Noting that is the first 2 2 Dialogue, Wang Yi said it reflects the high level of strategic mutual trust between the two countries. In the press release, Foreign Minister Sugiono stated “This dialogue is a strategic space to align steps, strengthen mutual trust, and design a new direction for future Indonesia-China cooperation.” One of the main outcomes was the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Dialogue (CSD) by Sugiono and Wang Yi. Furthermore, Indonesia and China also agreed to increase maritime cooperation, including strengthening coordination between Bakamla (Indonesia’s Maritime Security Agency) and the China Coast Guard.
East Asia
The Republic of Korea joined the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) as an observer following approval at the 39th Council of Ministers session in Seychelles on April 16. The IOC is a regional organisation of African Indian Ocean island nations, established in 1982 to promote cooperation in maritime security, climate change, fisheries, and food security. South Korea’s observer status marks a key step in enhancing Korea-Africa ties, building on the momentum of the 2024 Korea-Africa Summit, and is expected to boost partnerships with African island states in the Indian Ocean across these critical areas.
West Asia
During his State Visit to Saudi Arabia on April 22, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi co-chaired the second meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council (SPC) with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. The two leaders appreciated the deepening of bilateral engagement and high-level visits that have built mutual trust and cooperation in fields such as energy, defence, trade, investment, technology, culture, and people-to-people relations. Major issues discussed in the meeting included Saudi Arabia’s commitment to invest USD 100 billion in India, establishing two oil refineries, progress on taxation, connecting payment gateways and trade settlement in local currencies, and progress in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC). Two new ministerial committees would be established under the Strategic Partnership Council on “Defence Cooperation” and “Tourism and Culture Cooperation”.
Central Asia
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev visited China for a state visit on April 22. Following the talks between President Xi and President Aliyev, the two leaders announced the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. They also witnessed the signing of 20 cooperation documents in the fields of jointly building the “Belt and Road”, justice, green development, digital economy, intellectual property, aerospace and other fields. During the meeting, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that tariff and trade wars undermine the legitimate rights and interests of all countries, hurt the multilateral trading system and impact the world economic order.
Indian Ocean Region
INS Sunayna, deployed to Africa as part of the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR mission, arrived at Nacala Port, Mozambique, on 17 April 2025 after participating in the India-Africa maritime exercise AIKEYME 25 in Tanzania. During its stay, the ship engaged in a variety of joint activities and outreach programmes with the Mozambique Navy, including embarking Mozambique Navy personnel as Sea Riders for a joint surveillance mission in Mozambique’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
