text: According to another source privy to details, when Gandhi said that India had overplayed Quad and China was trying to “behead India” through Pakistan and CPEC, Jaishankar retorted that India was ready with its strategies. The Minister referred to Quad in the context of a particular geography. With context to China, the minister also “compared the budget allocated for border infrastructure under the UPA and the Modi government”. Jaishankar said 4,600 crore was spent annually on the Chinese border till 2016 but the figure was enhanced to 11,800 crore afterwards, the source said.
  While Gandhi “appeared fatalist with regard to China”, the minister “appeared confident to handle the menace”. The minister also “highlighted India’s connectivity projects in the neighbourhood and emphasised that such initiatives have improved over the past six years”. Gandhi curiously was dismissive of the fact that projects do not reflect strategy. Jaishankar emphasised that projects are part of Delhi’s neighbourhood approach which is a priority for the government.
  He said ties with the Gulf countries under the UPA were limited to the Indian community, remittances and energy-related transactions but attained depth under the Modi government, the source said. In this context the Minister referred to growing trade and investment ties including investments from Gulf in India, defence partnership, security ties and effective intelligence sharing mechanism, sources pointed out. The Minister also referred to assistance that Gulf countries provided to Indian diaspora since the outbreak of pandemic. It may be pointed out that notwithstanding pandemic Jaishankar, MoS MEA and Petroleum Minister have trips to the Gulf and engaged with them via video conference. More visits are in the pipeline, ET has learnt.
  With regard to Africa, Jaishankar mentioned that African countries have felt that they are now getting necessary attention. Every African capital has been touched by a Cabinet Minister during the last 7 years. India has hosted several incoming leaders.