India tells US it will retain embassy in DPRK

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India on Wednesday told visiting US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson it plans to retain its embassy in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) as New Delhi defended its ties with the East Asian country at a time when Washington has stepped up efforts to isolate Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile programs.

India’s Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj told the top US diplomat at a meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday that her country intends to retain channels of communication open with the DPRK.

India's Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj speaks during a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (not seen), after their meeting at the Indian Foreign Ministry in New Delhi, India, on October 25, 2017. /Reuters Photo

"We had open discussion on the issues of trade reduction and closing the embassy," Swaraj said at a joint press conference after the meeting. "As far as the question of embassy goes, our embassy there is very small, but there is in fact an embassy," she said.

"I told Secretary Tillerson that some of their friendly countries should maintain embassies there so that some channels of communication are kept open," the Indian minister said.

India and the DPRK maintain embassies in each other’s capitals, though New Delhi recently banned the trade of most goods with the country, except food and medicine in line with UN sanctions against Pyongyang’s nuclear tests.

Trade between India and the DPRK amounted to 130 million US dollars in 2016-17 which has dropped to 10.95 million US dollars in the current fiscal year, according to official data. "As far as trade is concerned it has come down, really come down. It has become minimal," Swaraj said.

The minister said Tillerson "understood" and "appreciated" New Delhi’s position on the DPRK.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson meets his Indian counterpart, Sushma Swaraj, at the Indian Foreign Ministry in New Delhi, India, on October 25, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Following a series of missile launches, the DPRK conducted its sixth nuclear test last month. India along with the rest of the global community has condemned the test. In the aftermath of the test, the UN imposed new sanctions that included bans or restrictions on the export of coal, iron ore and seafood by Pyongyang.

India wary of alliances?

Tillerson arrived in India on late Tuesday after his visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan as part of a new effort by the US President Donald Trump's administration to deepen economic and strategic ties, which is being seen by observers as an attempt to balance China's growing clout across Asia.

During the talks with the Indian foreign minister, both sides pledged to strengthen cooperation against terrorism. Tillerson also assured India that the US is ready to provide advanced military technology to New Delhi.

"The United States supports India’s emergence as a leading power and will continue to contribute to Indian capabilities to provide security throughout the region," Tillerson said at the joint news conference with Swaraj.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson shakes hands with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi before their meeting at the Prime Minister's residence in New Delhi, India, on October 25, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Tillerson, who flew in from Pakistan which he called an important US ally in the restive region, also held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is driving closer ties with the United States.

But India, a champion of the Non-Aligned Movement but a country that was later seen as a close ally of the former Soviet Union during the Cold War, still remains wary of any alliances with major powers lest it affects its autonomy. The South Asian giant has historically avoided alliances, preferring to maintain cautious relations with both Washington and Beijing.

US reconciled with Iran-India ties

India has also maintained its traditional links with Iran, which has been long targeted by the US and its Western allies for its missile and nuclear program and its alleged military support to Middle Eastern extremist groups. Iran has been a key supplier of oil to India, which has a massive hunger for energy to cater to its population of over 1.3 billion people.

India is also investing in key infrastructure projects in Iran, particularly pushing for the development of Chabahar port at the cost of 500 million US dollars and Chabahar-Zahedan railway worth 1.6-billion US dollars.

Tillerson on Wednesday struck a conciliatory note on India’s ties with Iran, saying the US wouldn’t come in the way of countries doing legitimate business there.

"It is not our objective to harm the Iranian people nor is it our objective to interfere with legitimate business activities that are going on with other businesses, whether they be from Europe, India or agreements that are in place or promote economic development and activity to the benefit of our friends and allies," he said.

Concerns about Pakistan's stability

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson adjusts his headphone as he and India's Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj (unseen) attend a media briefing in New Delhi, India, on October 25, 2017. /Reuters Photo

After arriving in New Delhi from Islamabad, Tillerson said the United States is concerned about the stability of Pakistan's government, saying too many extremists were finding sanctuary inside Pakistan to launch attacks on other nations.

He said Pakistan had an interest "in not just containing these organizations but ultimately eliminating [the groups]."

"Quite frankly my view - and I expressed this to the leadership of Pakistan - is we also are concerned about the stability and security of Pakistan's government as well," he told reporters in New Delhi. "This could lead to a threat to Pakistan's own stability. It is not in anyone's interests that the government of Pakistan be destabilized," he added.

India has long blamed Pakistan for not doing enough against militant groups that it says operate from its soil, and lately found resonance with the US and the Afghan government trying to fight Taliban insurgents who they claim are also sheltered in northwest Pakistan.

"In the fight against terrorism the United States will stand shoulder to shoulder with India. Terrorists' safe havens will not be tolerated," Tillerson said at the joint press conference.

(With input from agencies)

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