The Ministry of External Affairs briefing ventured into extraterrestrial territory when a journalist asked whether India and the United States had ever discussed Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs), more commonly known as UFOs.The unexpected question appeared to catch MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal off guard, drawing a smile before he admitted that the subject was a first for him at the ministry’s weekly media briefing on Tuesday.”…. your question regarding UFOs, this is a new matter that I’ve heard. I’ll have to check, what is the context, what is there behind it,” Jaiswal said with a smile on his face.The journalist had referred to the recent release of UAP-related files by the US government and sought to know whether Indian and American officials had exchanged views on the phenomenon.While declining to speculate about visitors from outer space, Jaiswal steered the conversation firmly back to Earth’s orbit.”As far as, I mean, we have a vibrant space programme that you know. We have ISRO, which is a very well-known entity with an international reputation,” he said, highlighting India’s cooperation with several international space agencies, including Japan.The spokesperson promised to revert with details after examining the issue, saying, “I’ll come back to you as to where we are or what lies behind this particular question of yours.”For a few moments, the usually serious diplomatic briefing found itself navigating a different kind of foreign affairs — one potentially extending beyond national borders, continents and perhaps even planets.Whether New Delhi and Washington have discussed UFOs remains unanswered. But for now, the MEA appears to have identified at least one unexplained phenomenon: how a routine foreign policy briefing suddenly found itself talking about aliens.