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When the United States questioned India about exporting Russian oil in the midst of the Ukraine crisis, Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar was quick to respond, saying that India’s purchase of Russian oil is much less compared to that of Europe.

Tweeting this response by Jaishankar, Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi applauded his sharp retort to the United States, calling his remarks on the ‘Russian oil’ question by the United States “superb”.

Posting a video of the same, Chaturvedi wrote, “Superb for EAM!” This is one of the few times when a Shiv Sena leader has appreciated a move of the BJP-led central government since the two parties turned bitter rivals after years of alliance.

A diplomatic version of irresistible force meeting immovable object played out in the virtual meeting between United States President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, with Washington unable to persuade New Delhi to follow the US-Nato line on Russia. With no perceptible change in their differences on the Russia-Ukraine war, both sides pressed ahead with other areas of cooperation, including addressing potential crippling global food shortages that could result from a long drawn out war.
Senior US administration officials who briefed reporters following the meeting said the two leaders had a warm and candid conversation lasting an hour and covered a wide range of subjects, including the contentious Russia-Ukraine war and India's defence and energy-related ties with Moscow. The US President did not make any specific demand that India end Russian energy imports, and Modi did not make any concrete commitments to stop such imports, officials said, adding, "We are not going to tell India what to do."

The Indian Air Force, in its enquiry, has found more than one official guilty in the case of the “accidental” firing of an armed supersonic missile into Pakistani territory, sources said, adding that severe action would be taken against the persons found guilty.

The enquiry is being conducted by Air Vice Marshal R.K. Sinha, who is probing how the missile got fired during routine maintenance work.

An unarmed supersonic missile “accidently” took off from Sirsa and landed at a place 124 km within Pakistani territory on March 9 evening. The Indian Defence Ministry had “regretfully” explained it as “a technical malfunction”.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Shehbaz Sharif was elected the 23rd Prime Minister unopposed on Monday after the candidate nominated by his predecessor Imran Khan's PTI, former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, announced in parliament that his party was boycotting the election and resigning en masse from the National Assembly. In his first remarks after being elected, Shehbaz prioritised a "just resolution" of the Kashmir issue and "good relations" with neighbour India, along with the challenge of mending a bruised economy.

PML-N’s Ayaz Sadiq, on whom fell the task of marshalling the House through the chaos of the no-trust vote past midnight last Saturday, also presided over the election of a new PM after deputy speaker Qasim Suri said his "conscience" didn't permit him to take up that responsibility.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Washington DC on Sunday as part of his five-day US visit which includes the India-US 2+2 ministerial dialogue.

Rajnath will be in the US from April 10 to April 15 to hold talks with US leadership on ways to deepen the India-US strategic partnership. “I would be leaving New Delhi tonight for a visit to the United States from April 10 to April 15. I look forward to attending the Fourth India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Washington DC. Also, I shall be visiting INDOPACOM headquarters in Hawai, during this visit,” Defence Minister said in a tweet on Saturday.