India on Tuesday addressed several diplomatic and regional matters, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) responding to reports surrounding a BAPS delegation’s visit to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, outlining recent India-China military-level meetings along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), and commenting on India’s possible participation in the 2027 South Asian Federation (SAF) Games in Pakistan.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal spoke about the issues during a media briefing in New Delhi, providing details on India’s position on the developments.
MEA on Eiffel Tower controversy involving BAPS delegation
Jaiswal said the government was aware of reports concerning the visit of a delegation associated with the BAPS organisation to Paris.
Reports had alleged that women employees at the Eiffel Tower were asked not to enter certain areas while the delegation was visiting the landmark.
The MEA spokesperson noted that a BAPS temple had recently been inaugurated in the Paris region. However, he maintained that the controversy surrounding the Eiffel Tower was primarily an issue between the organisations involved.
Jaiswal did not offer further details on the reported incident, effectively distancing the Indian government from the dispute.
India-China military talks continue along LAC
The MEA also provided an update on recent military engagements between India and China along the Line of Actual Control.
Jaiswal said meetings under the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) had taken place in both Beijing and New Delhi. These engagements followed understandings reached during meetings between the Special Representatives of India and China in August 2025 and August 2026.
According to Jaiswal, the latest developments have also been followed by senior military commander-level meetings along the border.
The first such flag meeting following the recent developments was held on September 6 at Vacha in Arunachal Pradesh, on the Indian side of the border.
A second meeting took place on September 7 at Damai, on the Chinese side, he said.
The MEA spokesperson further stated that a similar mechanism for military-level engagement is also in place in the western sector.
The continued meetings are significant as both countries maintain efforts to manage tensions and maintain communication along the disputed boundary.
India’s participation in 2027 SAF Games in Pakistan
Jaiswal was also asked about India’s possible participation in the 2027 South Asian Federation (SAF) Games, which are scheduled to be held in Pakistan.
The issue comes against the backdrop of continuing political and diplomatic sensitivities between India and Pakistan.
The MEA addressed the question as part of its wider briefing on India’s bilateral and regional engagements. However, the details provided in the briefing indicate that the question of India’s participation remains part of the ongoing diplomatic consideration.
The SAF Games bring together athletes from South Asian countries and are among the region’s major multi-sport events.
The MEA’s latest briefing therefore covered three separate but important issues — the Eiffel Tower controversy involving a BAPS delegation, continued military-level communication between India and China along the LAC, and India’s potential participation in a major regional sporting event in Pakistan.
