India’s Role in the Middle East: S. Jaishankar

S. Jaishankar on India Mediating in the Middle East: If There Are Things to Be Said…

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed India’s concern over the escalating conflict in the Middle East, emphasizing the need to avoid civilian casualties. He noted that India’s worries grew as tensions between Israel and Iran risk developing into a full-scale war. As part of that concern, he stated that India can engage in the matter 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 minister said during an interaction with a think tank in Washington, just hours before Iran launched a barrage of missiles against Israel.

He stated, “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.” The minister emphasized that any country’s response must adhere to international humanitarian law and avoid harming 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,” he added, “It is important to have some kind of international humanitarian effort.”

Iran launched at least 180 missiles into Israel on Tuesday in response to the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and the ongoing military offensive by the Israeli army in the region. This development threatens to push the Middle East closer to a regionwide war, while Israel and the US have vowed to retaliate against Tehran.