Expressing concern over the on-going tensions between Israel and Iran and the risk of it turning into a full-scale war between the two countries, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has stressed the importance of “communication in difficult times”, and said India could help the parties involved through discussions and diplomacy.
“Don’t underestimate the importance of communication in difficult times. If there are things to be said and passed on and back, I think those are all contributions that we can make, and we do…,” the Indian minister said while interacting with a US think tank in Washington, hours before Iran attacked Israel with a barrage of missiles.
Similarly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on several occasions, said that India maintains close ties with all countries and is always ready to help as ‘Vishwa Bandhu’ (friend to all).
“Today’s India is with everyone and thinks about everyone’s benefit,” Modi had observed during his recent visit to Poland.
India, ever since Modi took over as Prime Minister of the country, has been actively involved in the world affairs, trying to contribute to the world peace and progress in all situations, be it conflicts, wars and natural disasters.
It’s a distinctive move and a complete policy change as it would, earlier, follow the policy of maintaining a certain distance from all, but now, that has changed.
“For decades, India’s policy was to maintain distance from all countries,” PM Modi said, adding that situation has now changed.
“…Today, India’s policy is to maintain close ties with all countries. Today’s India wants to connect with everyone,” Modi said in a subtle jab at the Non-Aligned Movement of the 1970s under then Congress government.
Meanwhile, Jaishankar has also observed that India is highly concerned over the on-going conflicts in different parts of the world getting escalated.
“We are concerned at the possibility of a broadening of the (Israel-Iran) conflict, not just what happened in Lebanon, but also to the Houthis and the Red Sea, and to anything that happens between Iran and Israel,” he was quoted as saying in the reports.
Reiterating India’s position on the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas the External Affairs Minister said for India it was a terror attack and the country concerned, in such a situation, has all the rights to respond, but it is to be done keeping in mind the interests of civilians.
“We regard October 7 as a terrorist attack. We understand that Israel needed to respond, but we also believe that any response by any country has to take into account international humanitarian law and that it must be careful about any damage or implications for civilian populations,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, as the confrontation between Israel and Hamas goes on, and the same has got extended to Iran through Lebanon-based Hizballah, India’s offer to help countries involved in wars and conflicts has its own importance.
The Narendra Modi government at the Centre did not miss any opportunity where it could have helped opening a passage for any form of communication among the governments and organizations involved in conflicts and wars.
Major escalation in Russia-Ukraine war, which is on since 2014, happened in February 2022 and the two countries have been fighting an intense war since then.
India that shares good relations with both – Russia and Ukraine – have urged them time and again to sort out the differences through dialogue.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has met Presidents of Russia and Ukraine in their respective countries and also in various other nations as the world leaders would assemble there to attend meetings and events of international bodies such as the UN and others.
Modi and his cabinet ministers, including Jaishankar, and India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Kumar Doval have met the leadership of Russia, Ukraine, Israel and other involved in wars and conflicts to offer India’s assistance in helping open the communication lines to resolve the matters amicably through dialogue.