West Asia conflict: India calls for immediate de-escalation, urges diplomacy for peace in region

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New Delhi: After tensions heightened in West Asia and the Gulf region, India on Monday reiterated the call for immediate de-escalation of conflict. Moreover, India urged a diplomatic solution as the way forward for peace and stability to be restored in the region.

The Ministry of External Affairs noted how the conflict, which has now lasted for over 100 days, has resulted in immense suffering. Furthermore, it has impacted the global economy. The situation in West Asia remains particularly grave.

The statement said, “India deeply regrets the renewed attacks in West Asia. These developments are a matter of utmost concern to the international community. This conflict has now lasted over 100 days and has already caused immense human suffering. It has also had a debilitating impact on the global economy and energy supplies”.

“We call on all parties to immediately de-escalate tensions, ensure that civilians are not harmed and conclude ongoing negotiations for a diplomatic solution so that peace and stability can return to the region”, it underlined. Indeed, West Asia’s future depends on diplomacy.

New Delhi’s call for restoration of peace comes amid the backdrop of the major military escalations over the last 24 hours. These have seen multi-city kinetic engagements and airstrikes on strategic installations. Additionally, there have been heavy projectile salvos across the region. Consequently, conflicts such as these in West Asia continue to affect international relations deeply.

Marking a sharp escalation in West Asia, Israel and Iran traded fire on Monday, their war’s 100th day. This put its already fragile truce in serious jeopardy and threatened to reignite all-out regional war.

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Compounding the maritime security matrix across regional choke points, the Iran-backed Houthis announced they were banning Israeli shipping on the Red Sea, a key shipping lane, The Jerusalem Post reported. Clearly, events in West Asia have a ripple effect beyond immediate borders.

The latest round of kinetic actions included one on an Iranian petrochemical complex and what Iran's Revolutionary Guard said was the targeting of two Israeli bases. These came hours after President Trump reportedly called on Israel to refrain from retaliating against Tehran’s missiles. As a result, it signals ongoing volatility throughout West Asia.

The foundational breakdown of the cross-border truce infrastructure escalated after Israel launched airstrikes at Beirut’s southern suburbs on Sunday. This led to Iran retaliating with its own strike on Israel. Afterwards, Monday’s attacks and counterattacks unfolded. All these events contribute to instability in West Asia.

This sudden re-eruption of hostilities has cast a foreboding shadow over diplomatic efforts to permanently end the war, which originally commenced on February 28. The kinetic escalation severely threatens to derail US President Donald Trump’s last-ditch efforts to establish an off-ramp. He is negotiating a comprehensive nuclear deal with Tehran. As a result, West Asia’s political future appears ever more uncertain.

(ANI)

Also Read: Tehran accuses IAEA chief of ‘deliberate bias against Iran.’ Regional developments continue to focus international attention on West Asia.

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