India urges de-escalation in West Asia war

New Delhi: India on Monday advocated de-escalation of tensions in West Asia and called for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve underlying issues, while prioritising the safety of around one crore Indians in the region along with energy security and trade.

Making a suo-motu statement in Parliament, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India stands for maintaining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states in the region. He also defended allowing an Iranian ship to dock at an Indian port on humanitarian grounds.

Jaishankar said the government has been monitoring the situation closely and has already brought back 67,000 stranded Indians from the conflict zone. “India is in favour of peace and urges a return to dialogue and diplomacy. We advocate de-escalation, restraint, and ensuring the safety of civilians,” he said. “The well-being and security of the Indian community in the region is our priority. Our national interests, including energy security and trade, will always be paramount,” he added.

Jaishankar said PM Narendra Modi is closely monitoring the developments and has spoken to several leaders in West Asia, who assured the safety of the Indian community.