UNITED NATIONS, OCT 16: India has expressed deep concern over the escalating hostilities in the Middle East, strongly condemning repeated attacks on civilian infrastructure, commercial vessels and Indian seafarers.
Addressing a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) debate on the situation in the Middle East on Thursday, India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, said the worsening situation was a major challenge for the international community and called for immediate de-escalation.
He emphasised that India has significant interests in maintaining peace, security and stability across the region.
“The people of the Middle East need normalcy and lasting peace,” the ambassador said, stressing that lasting peace requires more than simply ending hostilities and must ensure long-term regional stability and security.
India strongly condemned recent attacks on civilian infrastructure, including airports in Saudi Arabia, which reportedly resulted in fatalities, including the death of Indian national Mohammad Yousef Ali in Riyadh. New Delhi expressed solidarity with the Saudi Government and people, reaffirming its support for the country's sovereignty.
India Demands Protection of Indian Seafarers
India also raised concerns over repeated attacks on commercial shipping and merchant seafarers, several of whom are Indian nationals.
Parvathaneni cited recent incidents involving the India-flagged MV DP World Cauvery, MT Petro Dolphin, MT Valthera, MT On Peace and MT Kazimah III, describing attacks on commercial vessels and their crews as unacceptable.
He called for an immediate halt to such attacks and stressed that freedom of navigation and the safe, uninterrupted movement of maritime commerce through international waterways must be protected in accordance with international law.
The ambassador thanked the authorities in Oman and the United Arab Emirates for their assistance in safeguarding Indian seafarers affected by the incidents.
India and Liberia have also launched a ‘Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers’ at the United Nations, with 23 additional member states joining the initiative. The platform aims to strengthen international cooperation and improve protections for maritime workers.
India Proposes Emergency Support Network for Seafarers
Referring to the BRICS Leaders’ Summit hosted in New Delhi last month, Parvathaneni recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposal for a ‘Seafarers Emergency Support Network’.
The proposed network would connect maritime authorities and diplomatic missions to facilitate emergency alerts, medical assistance, communication with families and evacuation support when necessary.
India stressed that protecting seafarers is an international responsibility, given the critical role maritime transport plays in global trade.
India Reaffirms Support for Yemen and Gaza
On Yemen, India reiterated its commitment to the country's unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, while opposing interference in its internal affairs.
New Delhi also underlined the importance of protecting maritime navigation through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the southern Red Sea, describing their security as a shared international responsibility.
At the same time, India cautioned that the maritime crisis and tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz must not divert global attention from the humanitarian emergency in the Gaza Strip.
The Indian envoy reiterated that terrorism cannot be justified and recalled India's unequivocal condemnation of the October 7, 2023 attacks.
India reaffirmed its support for humanitarian assistance, dialogue, diplomacy and a negotiated two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. It called on the international community to work together to prevent further civilian casualties and destruction of civilian infrastructure.
Parvathaneni also highlighted India's contribution of more than USD 52 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), underlining New Delhi's continued support for humanitarian relief.
India Calls for Safety of UN Peacekeepers in Lebanon
Addressing the situation in Lebanon, India emphasised that personnel serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) must never be targeted.
New Delhi strongly condemned attacks on UN peacekeepers and stressed that their safety and security remain a priority.
India also called for full respect for the inviolability of United Nations premises and highlighted the importance of preparing for a possible post-UNIFIL arrangement while strengthening the capabilities of the Lebanese Armed Forces.
Concluding its position, India reiterated its call for restraint, dialogue and diplomacy, stressing that sustained international cooperation is essential to prevent further escalation and achieve lasting peace across the Middle East.
