Jaishankar Raises Ariha Shah Case in Talks with German Counterpart

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 3rd Sept: External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar on Wednesday held delegation-level talks with German counterpart Johan Wadephul, who is on an official visit to India. The two leaders discussed ways to strengthen the India-Germany strategic partnership, covering trade, climate action, defence cooperation, and technology exchange.

Jaishankar also raised the case of Ariha Shah, a four-year-old Indian girl placed in German foster care for nearly 40 months. “On consular issues, I raised the issue of Ariha Shah, an Indian child who’s been in the foster care of German authorities for some time. I underlined to the minister that it is essential that her cultural rights are ensured and she grows up in Indian surroundings,” Jaishankar said, adding that the issue must be resolved at the earliest.

Ariha was separated from her parents Dhara and Bhavesh Shah after being injured while in the care of her grandmother. German authorities treated the case as child abuse, leading to her placement in foster care. Despite her parents’ claims that it was an accident, the legal battle has continued for over three years.

The two ministers also reviewed bilateral economic ties, with Germany expressing its goal to double trade with India. Discussions covered export control issues, defence cooperation, renewable energy, and innovation. “We appreciate Germany’s goal of doubling trade with India,” Jaishankar noted, emphasising the importance of Indo-German economic relations.

On global challenges, the leaders reviewed the Ukraine conflict, tensions in West Asia, the Middle East, and developments in the Indo-Pacific. Jaishankar stressed that “a multipolar world with strategic autonomy” offers the best response to economic volatility and political uncertainty, underscoring the need for stronger consultations among key nations.