NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday expressed concern over the ongoing middle east crisis and said that India can contribute as a facilitator of communication between Israel in Iran during the difficult time. Speaking at the Carnegie Endowment in the US, Jaishankar reiterated India's stance and called October 7 Hamas ’ attack on Israel a “terrorist attack".
The external affairs minister, however, said 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.
"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. It is important to have some kind of international humanitarian effort," Jaishankar said.
"We are concerned at the possibility of a broadening of the 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. 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," he added.
Jaishankar's remarks come days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Sharing his conversation with Israel's Netanyahu, PM Modi said "terrorism has no place in our world".
"Spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu about recent developments in West Asia. Terrorism has no place in our world. It is crucial to prevent regional escalation and ensure the safe release of all hostages. India is committed to supporting efforts for an early restoration of peace and stability," PM Modi wrote on X.
The external affairs minister, however, said 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.
"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. It is important to have some kind of international humanitarian effort," Jaishankar said.
"We are concerned at the possibility of a broadening of the 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. 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," he added.
Jaishankar's remarks come days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Sharing his conversation with Israel's Netanyahu, PM Modi said "terrorism has no place in our world".
"Spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu about recent developments in West Asia. Terrorism has no place in our world. It is crucial to prevent regional escalation and ensure the safe release of all hostages. India is committed to supporting efforts for an early restoration of peace and stability," PM Modi wrote on X.
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