New Delhi: India has strongly condemned attacks on commercial shipping and maritime navigation amid escalating tensions in West Asia, describing the strikes as “legally and morally indefensible” and calling for the safety and security of seafarers, including Indian nationals.
Addressing the United Nations Security Council’s quarterly open debate on the situation in the Middle East, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, called for an immediate de-escalation of hostilities and urged all parties to resolve disputes through dialogue and diplomacy.
India also stressed that safeguarding the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the southern Red Sea is a shared international responsibility. Reaffirming New Delhi’s commitment to Yemen’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, the envoy opposed interference in the country’s internal affairs.
Parvathaneni cited recent attacks on commercial vessels, including the India-flagged MV DP World Cauvery, MT Petro Dolphin, MT Valthera, MT On Peace and MT Kazimah III, expressing concern over the risks faced by merchant mariners.
He thanked the authorities in Oman and the United Arab Emirates for their assistance in ensuring the safety of Indian seafarers during the attacks. India called for an end to attacks on commercial vessels, seafarers and civilian infrastructure, emphasising that freedom of navigation and the safe, unimpeded movement of maritime commerce must be upheld in accordance with international law.
The envoy also expressed concern over attacks on civilian infrastructure across the region, including Saudi airports, which resulted in casualties. He referred to the death of Indian national Mohammad Yousef Ali in Riyadh and reaffirmed India’s solidarity with the government and people of Saudi Arabia in defending the country’s sovereignty.
Highlighting India’s economic and strategic interests in West Asia, Parvathaneni said annual trade between India and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries stands at around 180 billion US dollars. Cumulative foreign direct investment amounts to 31 billion dollars, while remittances exceed 52 billion dollars.
Around 10 million Indians live in GCC countries, contributing to their economies. The envoy said their safety, security and well-being remain a key priority for the Government of India.
Initiatives to strengthen maritime security
Highlighting efforts to improve international coordination, Parvathaneni said India and Liberia launched the Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week in September. The initiative has 23 member states and aims to strengthen cooperation, protect seafarers’ rights and develop practical measures to prevent attacks on commercial shipping.
He 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 mechanism would connect maritime authorities and embassies to facilitate distress alerts, medical assistance, communication with families and evacuation support when required.
Emphasising the global importance of maritime security, the envoy noted that nearly two million seafarers operate the world’s merchant fleet, while maritime shipping accounts for around four-fifths of global trade.
India reiterates support for Palestine
Turning to Gaza, Parvathaneni cautioned that the focus on maritime security and regional conflicts must not divert attention from the continuing humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory.
He reiterated India’s unequivocal condemnation of the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks and expressed concern over the heavy toll of the conflict on civilians, particularly women and children.
India reaffirmed its support for humanitarian assistance, dialogue and diplomacy, and a negotiated two-state solution. The envoy stressed that a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine living peacefully alongside Israel, within secure and recognised borders, is essential for a comprehensive and lasting resolution.
He highlighted India’s humanitarian and development assistance to the Palestinian people, including medicines, medical supplies and other essential relief. India has also supported development projects such as a 200-bed super-speciality hospital, the Palestinian Institute of Diplomacy, a women’s empowerment centre, an artificial limb fitment camp and a vocational training institute.
India continues to support Palestinian capacity-building through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme and scholarships offered by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. Parvathaneni noted that 32 Palestinian students from Gaza joined colleges in India in August under the ICCR scholarship programme.
He also said India’s cumulative contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has exceeded 52 million US dollars. He underlined the agency’s role in providing essential services, including education and healthcare, to Palestinians.
India condemns attacks on UN peacekeepers
On Lebanon, India strongly condemned attacks on personnel serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), stressing that peacekeepers operating under United Nations Security Council mandates must not be targeted.
Parvathaneni emphasised the need to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and respect the inviolability of United Nations premises. He also highlighted the importance of preparing for a post-UNIFIL scenario and supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces.
On Syria, India reiterated its support for a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254, stressing the importance of preserving the country’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity.
Concluding his address, the envoy called for lasting peace and stability across the Middle East, emphasising that the region’s people need normalcy, security and a future free from conflict.
He reiterated India’s commitment to promoting peace, stability and prosperity across the region.
[DD News]