India in favor of ceasefire and two nation theory in West Asia, Jaishankar said in Rome.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Monday that India supports the imposition of an immediate ceasefire in West Asia and is in favor of the two-nation theory in the long term. He also condemned terrorism, taking people hostage, and the death of civilians in military operations. In his address at the 10th edition of the MED Mediterranean Dialogue in Rome, Jaishankar said that the situation in West Asia is extremely worrying, both in terms of what has happened and what may happen now.

He said that India condemns terrorism and hostage-taking activities. It also considers the large-scale death of civilians in military operations unacceptable. International humanitarian law cannot be disregarded. In the immediate term, we should all support a ceasefire. In the long term, it is necessary to focus on the future of the Palestinian people as per the provisions of UNRWA. India is in favor of the Two Nation Theory solution.

Dialogue with both Israel and Iran

Expressing concern over the escalation of conflict in West Asia, Jaishankar said that India is in regular contact at the top level with both Israel and Iran to exercise restraint and enhance dialogue. He said that like Italy, a contingent of India is also deployed in Lebanon as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Since last year, Indian naval ships have been deployed to protect commercial shipping in the Gulf of Aden and the North Arabian Sea.