Modi hails Egypt’s role in Gaza ceasefire deal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met Egypt’s Foreign Minister Dr Badr Abdelatty and lauded Cairo’s crucial role in facilitating the Gaza ceasefire agreement, expressing hope that it would pave the way for lasting peace in the region.

During the meeting, Foreign Minister Abdelatty briefed the PM on the outcome of the first India-Egypt Strategic Dialogue held in New Delhi as part of his visit.

PM Modi conveyed his warm regards to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and noted that Egypt’s diplomatic efforts had been instrumental in advancing regional stability.

“He also expressed satisfaction over the steady progress in bilateral cooperation spanning trade, technology, energy, defence and people-to-people exchanges,” a PMO statement read.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the strategic partnership and expanding collaboration in emerging sectors of mutual interest.

A day earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Dr Abdelatty co-chaired the first India-Egypt Strategic Dialogue in New Delhi.

Calling the dialogue a “milestone” in the two nations’ rapidly evolving partnership, Jaishankar said the meeting provided an opportunity to take stock of growing defence, political and economic cooperation and to chart new directions to realise the vision of PM Modi and President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

“Our meeting for the first India-Egypt Strategic Dialogue is a milestone in our ties. Since the elevation of our relationship to a strategic partnership in 2023, cooperation in various domains has intensified,” Jaishankar said in his opening remarks.

He praised Egypt’s role in brokering peace in Gaza and reaffirmed India’s support for a two-state solution and all efforts aimed at a “durable and just peace” in the region.