NEW YORK: India has expressed serious concern over escalating hostilities in the Middle East, strongly condemning attacks on civilian infrastructure, commercial vessels and United Nations peacekeepers. New Delhi has called for coordinated international efforts to protect civilians and ensure regional stability.
Speaking at a UN Security Council discussion on October 15, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, said India had a significant stake in the security and stability of the Middle East.
Highlighting growing threats to commercial shipping and seafarers, Harish said India and Liberia had launched the ‘Group of Friends for the Safety of Shipping and Seafarers’ during the UN General Assembly session last month. The initiative has received the support of 23 member states, with the aim of strengthening international coordination and promoting practical measures to safeguard maritime operations.
Around 80% of global trade by volume is transported by sea, with approximately two million seafarers working aboard commercial vessels worldwide, he noted.
Harish also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposal at the BRICS summit in New Delhi to establish a ‘Seafarers’ Emergency Support Network’. The proposed network would connect maritime authorities and diplomatic missions to facilitate emergency communications, medical assistance, contact with families and evacuation when necessary.
On Yemen, India reiterated its commitment to the country’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, opposing interference in its internal affairs. Harish said attacks on shipping and seafarers, including Indian nationals, must stop. Ensuring security in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the southern Red Sea was a shared international responsibility, he added.
India also cautioned against the humanitarian crisis in Gaza being overshadowed by the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on commercial vessels. It unequivocally condemned the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks and reaffirmed its support for humanitarian assistance, dialogue and diplomatic efforts.
New Delhi reiterated that a two-state solution remained essential for lasting peace. India has contributed more than $52 million to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
Condemning attacks on UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeepers, India stressed that they must never be targeted. Harish called for respect for UN premises and the safety of peacekeeping personnel, while underlining the importance of supporting the Lebanese armed forces and preparing for the situation after UNIFIL’s mandate ends.
