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Foreign Minister Jaishankar attended the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting held at the National Convention Center in Vientiane, Laos on July 27, 2024.
Jaishankar talked about two of the most intense conflicts in the world right now: one between Israel and Palestine, which is causing trouble in Gaza; and the other between Ukraine and Russia.
India on Saturday called for de-escalation and restraint in the war-torn Gaza region, while stressing the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar highlighted India's stance on the two conflicts while addressing the 14th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in the capital of the Lao People's Democratic Republic as part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting.
Jaishankar talked about the two most intense conflicts in the world today: one is the conflict between Israel and Palestine, which has caused trouble in Gaza; the other is during the East Asia Summit (EAS) process and India's ten-year Eastward Journey. policy and the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
“Calling for de-escalation of the situation in Gaza and exercise of restraint. India continues to provide humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people. Attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea are worrying. India is independently contributing to ensuring the safety of maritime transportation.”
India on July 15 donated US$2.5 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to support the agency's core programs and services. This is the first installment of India's annual donation totaling $5 million.
India has supported a two-state solution in Gaza on multiple platforms and called for de-escalation and restraint in Gaza on humanitarian grounds. Regarding the conflict in Ukraine, the Foreign Minister stressed the importance of dialogue and diplomacy. “Prime Minister Modi has recently been in contact with Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky. India stands ready to contribute in any way possible,” he further said in the post.
In June, Modi met with Zelensky on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy. He later met with President Putin during an official visit to Moscow. “In a time of sharp divisions and diverse interests, #EAS is critical in bringing us together. India remains firmly committed to the East Asia Summit process.
India has not yet condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and has always advocated resolving the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. However, Prime Minister Modi told President Putin during his meeting with Putin on July 9 that the conflict in Ukraine cannot be resolved on the battlefield and peace efforts will not succeed amid bombs and bullets.
