Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday emphasized that Saudi Arabia plays a key role in maintaining stability in West Asia (the Middle East).
In his opening remarks at the second meeting of the Political, Security, Social and Cultural Committee of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council with Saudi Arabia’s visiting Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Dr. Jaishankar reiterated India’s long-standing position on the issue.
Emphasizing India’s commitment to condemning acts of terrorism and hostage-taking, he said: “Saudi Arabia, we recognize, is a very important factor of stability in the region. The situation in West Asia is a matter of deep concern for us, particularly the conflict in Gaza. India’s position in this regard has been principled and consistent. While we condemn acts of terrorism and hostage-taking, we are deeply pained by the continuing deaths of innocent civilians,” the media quoted him as saying.
The EAM stressed that any response to the conflict must adhere to international humanitarian law and that India has consistently called for an immediate ceasefire.
“Any response must take into account international humanitarian law and we support an early ceasefire. India has also consistently stood for a resolution of the Palestine issue through a two-state solution, and we have contributed to the building of Palestinian institutions and capacities,” he said.
Dr. Jaishankar also spoke on other global and regional issues, including the G20, BRICS, and the India-Middle East Economic Corridor (IMEC), highlighting the shared interest between India and Saudi Arabia in preserving regional stability and fostering economic growth.
“Today, we would have an opportunity to also talk about the G20, the BRICS, the IMEC, and other regional and global issues. It is clear from our discussions, which we have so far and expect to continue, that we have a similar interest in preserving the stability of the region and in driving our economies towards greater prosperity.”
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said that coordination between India and Saudi Arabia was essential and the two nations would “continue to align our positions on issues of shared concern, especially as they pertain to international peace, security and economic development.”
The Saudi Foreign Minister arrived in India on Tuesday night on a two-day visit and is expected to return late on Wednesday.
His India visit assumes importance as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), at this week’s Arab-Islamic Summit, condemned the ‘massacre’ committed against Palestinian and Lebanese people and demanded an immediate end to Israel’s war in Gaza and Lebanon.
Inaugurating the joint Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Riyadh on Monday, he condemned the “massacre committed against Palestinian and Lebanese people”.
He urged Israel “to refrain from any further act of aggression” and called on countries around the world to recognize Palestinian statehood.
Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League, also joined MBS in condemning Israel’s military operation in Gaza and Lebanon, saying that “words cannot express the plight of the Palestinian people.”
“The actions taken by Israel against the Palestinian people are undermining efforts to achieve lasting peace. It is only with justice that we will be able to establish lasting peace,” Gheit said.
“The world cannot turn a blind eye” to Israeli violence, he stressed.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati told the summit that his country was suffering an “unprecedented” crisis that threatens its existence, as Israel wages war on Hezbollah.
“Lebanon is going through an unprecedented historical and existential crisis that threatens its present and future,” he said.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian did not attend the meeting due to pressing “executive matters.” But his First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref condemned Israel’s assassinations of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders as “organized terrorism.”
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu also attended the summit.
In the closing statement on Monday, the assembled leaders said they “condemn in the strongest terms” the Israeli army’s actions “in the context of the crime of genocide … especially in the northern Gaza Strip during the past weeks”, citing torture, executions, disappearances and “ethnic cleansing.”
The statement also condemned attempts to cement Israel’s grip on Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem, calling it the “eternal capital” of the Palestinian territories, and called for the unification of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem under a Palestinian state.
“We reaffirm the full sovereignty of the State of Palestine over occupied East (Jerusalem), the eternal capital of Palestine, and reject any Israeli decisions or measures aimed at Judaising it and consolidating its colonial occupation of the city,” it said.
The 57-member OIC and 22-member Arab League include countries that recognize Israel and those firmly opposed to its regional integration.