German Chancellor Scholz is "closely following" the case of Ariha Shah, according to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri

New Delhi, India, October 26 – The Indian embassy is actively communicating with German officials regarding the Ariha Shah case, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has also addressed the matter with his German counterpart, as stated by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Friday.

Misri noted that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he is "closely following" the situation. "The case of Ariha Shah, who is in Germany under foster care, has been monitored very closely by us at various levels. Our embassy in Berlin has raised this issue with the German authorities. When the EAM was in Germany, he strongly addressed it with his counterpart. I can confirm it was discussed during today's meeting as well," Misri explained at a press briefing.

He emphasized the importance of ensuring that an Indian child grows up in an environment aligned with her religious, cultural, and linguistic background. "The Chancellor assured the PM that he is closely following this issue. I am confident that both sides will remain in touch through multiple ongoing channels," he added.

Ariha Shah is currently in foster care in Germany, and India has stressed the necessity for her to be in a familiar linguistic, cultural, and social setting. The situation arose when Ariha was accidentally injured by her grandmother in September 2021 at just seven months old, leading German authorities to take her into custody. Ariha's family has urged the Indian government to intervene, and the External Affairs Ministry has consistently raised the issue with Germany.

When asked if the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the situation in West Asia were discussed during the meeting between PM Modi and Chancellor Scholz, Misri confirmed that both topics were addressed in detail. "PM Modi shared his impressions of meetings with leaders from both Russia and Ukraine, highlighting India's ongoing efforts to facilitate dialogue among all parties involved in the conflict and affirming that India stands for peace rather than neutrality. Regarding West Asia, both sides expressed their concerns," he said.