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President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Romania as India sought deeper ties in trade and tourism. The visit coincided with S Jaishankar's tough message on terrorism and diplomacy, underscoring India's wider regional posture.
Newdelhi,UPDATED: Jul 23, 2026 20:36 IST
President Droupadi Murmu reached Romania on Thursday on the last leg of her three-nation tour of Europe, with the visit centred on expanding bilateral cooperation in trade, tourism and other key sectors. On the same day, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made a strong pitch for zero tolerance towards terrorism and called for dialogue and diplomacy to address the conflict in West Asia.
The day also saw India sharply respond to Pakistan at the United Nations on the issue of cross-border terrorism and Kashmir, while other developments in the region and beyond included Pakistan condemning a Houthi attack on Saudi oil tankers, reports of a likely resignation by Bangladesh President Mohammad Shahabuddin, the arrest of nine Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, and developments involving Indian-origin figures in the United States.
In Romania, Murmu arrived in Bucharest on a state visit that is focused on widening cooperation between India and Romania, especially in trade and tourism. Her visit marks the final stop of her three-nation European tour.
In Manila, Jaishankar said there must be zero tolerance for terrorism and warned at the ASEAN Regional Forum that acts of terrorism "will have consequences".
He also called for dialogue and diplomacy to end the conflict in West Asia. Jaishankar said international waterways must remain safe and unimpeded and added that attacks on seafarers cannot be condoned.
On the sidelines of the ASEAN meetings, Jaishankar met Oman Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi. The two leaders discussed the West Asia crisis and the evolving regional landscape.
At the United Nations, India strongly rejected Pakistan's remarks and said cooperation under the Indus Waters Treaty cannot be expected when "cross-border terrorism" is used as an "instrument of state policy". India also asserted that Kashmir is an integral part of the country.
In Islamabad, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned a Houthi attack on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea and expressed "unwavering support" for Saudi Arabia's security and territorial integrity.
In Dhaka, political sources and media reports said Bangladesh President Mohammad Shahabuddin is likely to resign soon, nearly two years before the end of his tenure.
In Colombo, the Sri Lankan Navy said it had arrested at least nine Indian fishermen and seized their trawler for allegedly poaching in Sri Lankan waters.
In the United States, Indian-origin physician Amish Shah won the Democratic congressional primary for Arizona's First District, defeating the establishment-backed candidate in a closely watched contest. In a separate development, the FBI arrested Indian national Harmanveer Singh for his alleged role in drug trafficking for the Canada-based Ravinder Dhanda gang.
Elsewhere, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels said they had attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea on Thursday, in a move that could widen the conflict linked to Iran, as the US military carried out its 12th consecutive night of strikes against Iran.
Overall, Thursday's developments ranged from Murmu's Romania visit and Jaishankar's messaging on terrorism and West Asia to India's sharp response to Pakistan at the UN, alongside key political and security developments across South Asia and the United States.
With PTI Inputs
- Ends
Published By:
India Today Web Desk
Published On:
Jul 23, 2026 20:36 IST
