Ongoing hostilities benefit nobody: India on Israeli attack on Iran

A general view of Tehran on October 26, 2024. Israel announced the launch of “precise strikes” on military targets in Iran on October 26, 2024, in retaliation for attacks against it, as Iranian state media reported several explosions around the capital.
| Photo Credit: AFP

India expressed deep concern about the unfolding situation in West Asia after Israel launched fresh attacks against Iran on Saturday (October 26, 2024), with the Ministry of External Affairs saying that the hostile situation does not help anyone.

“We are deeply concerned by the evolving escalation in West Asia and its ramifications for peace and stability in the region and beyond. We reiterate our call to all concerned to exercise restraint and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy,” the MEA said, in a statement that came hours after Israel confirmed that it had carried out strikes against Iranian military targets.

The current situation in Gaza and Lebanon featured in India’s recent diplomatic outreaches, at the BRICS summit as well as during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interaction with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday (October 25, 2024).

Expat safety concerns

“The ongoing hostilities are to nobody’s benefit, even as innocent hostages and civilian populations continue to suffer. Our Missions in the region are in contact with the Indian community,” the MEA said. The Gulf region is home to around nine million expatriate Indian workers and professionals. They are largely based in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries but Iran too has a prosperous Indian community based mostly in Tehran and Bandar Abbas. The safety and security of these expat workers will be a major issue in case wider hostilities break out between Iran and Israel.

The Israeli attack has drawn stronger condemnation from Turkey and Saudi Arabia. In a strongly-worded statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry accused Israel of “committing genocide in Gaza”, saying, “We condemn Israel’s attack on Iran in the strongest terms.” Saudi Arabia also expressed its “condemnation and denunciation of the military targeting of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”