Hamas Attack On Israel 'Big Act Of Terrorism', But There Has To Be A Solution For Palestine: Jaishankar
External Affairs Minister reiterated India's stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict, advocating for a "two-state solution."
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressed a Joint Session of the Senate's External Affairs and Defence Commission on Friday, where he discussed the recent attack on Israel by the militant group Hamas on October 7. Jaishankar described the attack as a "big act of terrorism" and stated that it was "unacceptable." However, he also emphasised the need to address the broader issue of Palestine through "dialogue and negotiation", news agency PTI reported.
"What happened on October 7, this big act of terrorism, the subsequent happenings after that, this has taken the entire region into a very different direction...the conflict cannot be the normal of that region, that it comes back to some stability, some cooperation. And within this, we have to find a balance between different issues," he said in response to questions from senators at the session, as quoted by PTI.
The External Affairs Minister reiterated India's stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict, advocating for a "two-state solution." He emphasised the importance of finding a resolution through "dialogue and negotiation" rather than through conflict.
"We all find terrorism unacceptable. We have to stand up on purpose. But there is also an issue of Palestine and there has to be a solution...and our view is that it has to be a two-state solution, Jaishankar said. If you have to find a solution, you have to find a solution through dialogue and negotiation. You cannot find a solution through conflict and so we would support that as well," he said, as per PTI.
Additionally, Jaishankar underlined the significance of maintaining a balance in complex situations and respecting "international humanitarian law." He stated that finding the right balance is crucial in addressing "a very difficult and complicated situation."
Following the attack by Hamas on Israel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. India also abstained from voting on a UN resolution related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, emphasising its stance against terrorism.
Countries Can Be ‘Non-West But Not Anti-West’: S Jaishankar
Regarding India's role in the Indian Ocean region, Jaishankar noted that the country holds a central position and takes its responsibilities in the region seriously. He highlighted India's contributions in various areas, including the economy, maritime security, natural disasters, and development, while being the "fifth largest economy in the world."
"We are right at the centre of the Indian Ocean. That's why it's called the Indian Ocean. We take that as a responsibility that we see today, whether it's the economy, whether it's maritime security, whether it is natural disasters, whether it is development. We are today the fifth largest economy in the world, and we have to contribute more that feeling is very strong there in India. So, from COVID to, I would say, to natural calamities...we have tried to do what we can to stabilise and strengthen the Indian Ocean region," he said.
Jaishankar also discussed the India-Middle East Corridor (IMEC) launched on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, aiming to strengthen relations between India and Europe. The MoU for IMEC was signed by several countries, signifying India's deep relationships in the Gulf region, where millions of Indian citizens reside.
"We have 9 million Indians living in the Gulf. They keep the Gulf economy going. The largest number of Indian citizens outside India, apart from the United States, are in the United Arab Emirates and in Saudi Arabia. So these are very deep relationships, he said. On BRICS expansion, Jaishankar said, the five-nation bloc has expanded and taken in six new members. There was a lot of interest, almost 30 countries wanted to be members of BRICS," he said, as quoted by PTI
In reference to BRICS expansion, Jaishankar noted that the bloc has taken in six new members, signifying a shift in global power centers. He highlighted the evolving direction of the world, where countries can be "non-West but not anti-West." Reflecting a diverse and changing global landscape.
"There is today a feeling that the world in a way has diversified beyond just Western countries...it's today possible in the world to be non-West but not anti-West. The two are very different. And I think this is part of the evolving direction of the world where there will be more power centres," he stressed.
The Senate session provided an opportunity to discuss these critical international matters, and India's stance on these issues was clearly articulated by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
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