India has called for a ceasefire in war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and expressed concerns over a possible escalation of the conflict in the West Asia Region. New Delhi has also demanded for the release of hostages by Hamas.
India’s statement comes ahead of the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the 16th Brics Summit in Russia’s Kazan.
PM Modi, on Tuesday, left for Russia to attend the Brics Summit 2024. During his two-day visit, the Indian Prime Minister is expected to hold bilateral meetings with world leaders, including Pezeshkian and Palestine’s leader Mahmoud Abbas, who are also attending the event where the situation in Gaza and escalating tension between Israel and Iran are likely to figure prominently in the international agenda.
Ahead of PM Modi’s Russia visit, the Indian government reiterated its position that it is important to return to dialogue and diplomacy to ensure that the war in Gaza does not spread to the wider West Asia region.
The meeting between PM Modi and Masoud Pezeshkian is expected on Tuesday. It will be the first bilateral engagement between the two leaders since the reformist president assumed office in July this year.
India’s stance on West Asia tensions
“Our (India’s) stance on West Asia has been consistent and firm over a long period of time. We have explicitly condemned acts of terrorism and at the same time, as the conflict has grown and, in a sense, expanded, we have called for a ceasefire, and release of hostages,” foreign secretary Vikram Misri said.
“Also for guarding against an expansion of the conflict that would pull more and more actors and make the issue more complicated to resolve, it is important to get back to dialogue and diplomacy,” Misri further said.
Modi-Iran President bilateral meet
Upon his arrival later on Tuesday, PM Modi will begin his official engagements with a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
However, if PM Modi and Iranian President Pezeshkian hold talks at the Brics Summit, the Indian leader is expected to express concern over loss of civilian lives and seek Gaza ceasefire as well as underscore the need to restrict the conflict from spilling over into the West Asia region.
A similar message was conveyed by PM Modi to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when the two leaders spoke last month.
With inputs from agencies.
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