Expressing concern over the ongoing conflict in West Asia, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said at the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi that India supports a two-state solution regarding the Palestinian issue.
Jaishankar stressed that the ongoing tensions in the Gulf region since February 28, including threats to maritime traffic and energy infrastructure due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, underscore the fragile security environment.. Track updates on the US-Iran war
“The conflict in West Asia deserves special attention. The ongoing tensions, risks to maritime traffic and disruption to energy infrastructure highlight the fragility of the situation,” ANI quoted Jaishankar as saying.
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Jaishankar also highlighted instability in other parts of the region, including Lebanon, Syria, Sudan, Yemen and Libya. He said, “Lebanon and Syria face ongoing challenges. The conflict in Sudan imposes a huge human cost. Yemen represents humanitarian and maritime concerns, while stability in Libya remains important.”
These crises require sustained international cooperation and diplomatic engagement, Jaishankar said.
“Taken together, they confirm a clear truth: stability cannot be selective, and peace cannot be fragmented,” he said. “It is necessary to respect international law, protect civilians and avoid targeting public infrastructure. India is ready to contribute constructively to de-escalation efforts and support initiatives aimed at restoring stability,” the External Affairs Minister added.
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Amid the ongoing Iran-US war in the Middle East, BRICS foreign ministers began a two-day meeting in New Delhi on Thursday. The meeting comes amid rising energy prices and increasing global economic uncertainty resulting from the conflict in the Middle East that has been ongoing for more than two months.
The meeting is attended by diplomats from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, in addition to the new member states. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, who is among the Iranian leaders at the forefront of negotiations with the United States, is attending the BRICS meeting.
Araqchi urged the BRICS countries to condemn the United States and Israel, accusing them of “unlawful aggression” against Tehran, the Associated Press reported. He called on members of the bloc and other countries to “take practical steps to stop warmongering” and end what he described as impunity for violations of the United Nations Charter.
