India Issues Stern Warning at UNSC Over Escalating West Asia Crisis and Seafarer Safety
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Taking a firm and unequivocal stand on the worsening security environment in the Middle East, India has strongly condemned the escalating military hostilities in West Asia during a high-level United Nations Security Council (UNSC) debate in New York. Addressing member states on Thursday, India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, articulated New Delhi’s grave concern over persistent strikes against civilian infrastructure, vital aviation hubs, and commercial maritime sea lanes. Emphasizing that peace and stability in West Asia are of paramount strategic importance to India, Ambassador Harish delivered an uncompromising message to global stakeholders, stating that targeted drone and missile strikes against commercial vessels and international shipping corridors must cease immediately to prevent wider regional catastrophe.
Outrage Over Airport Strikes in Saudi Arabia: Solidarity Stated After Indian National's Death
Delivering India's national statement, Ambassador Harish directly condemned cross-border aerial incursions striking municipal and transport targets across Saudi Arabia:
Strikes on Riyadh and Civilian Hubs: India strongly rebuked deliberate attacks directed against international airports in Riyadh and other critical civilian facilities across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, labeling such incursions reckless escalations that endanger non-combatants.
Loss of Indian Life: Highlighting the human cost of the conflict, the envoy noted with deep sorrow that an Indian national, Mohammed Yusuf Ali, was killed during these strikes, reiterating that innocent migrant workers and expatriates continue to bear the brunt of ongoing military clashes.
Full Solidarity with Riyadh: Reaffirming strong bilateral ties, New Delhi expressed complete solidarity with the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and legitimate security interests of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in countering unprovoked hostility.
Defending Seafarers: Attacks on Indian-Flagged Ships Declared Morally and Legally Unjustified
Focusing on international maritime law, India sharply denounced the escalating pattern of attacks targeting cargo fleets and crude carriers manned by Indian crew members:
Flagged Vessels Under Fire: India specifically enumerated several commercial merchant vessels subjected to hostile maritime attacks in recent weeks, including the MV DP World Cauvery, MT Petro Dolphin, MT Valthera, MT On Peace, and MT Kazimiat III.
Threat to Indian Sailors: Noting that these commercial ships carried substantial contingents of Indian seafarers, Ambassador Harish described repeated attacks on peaceful navigation as entirely unjustified from both a moral and international legal standpoint.
Safeguarding Strategic Sea Lines: The envoy underscored that freedom of navigation through critical choke points is vital for global supply chains, international energy transit, and the personal safety of thousands of commercial sailors operating in regional waters.
Global Coalition for Seafarers: Gratitude to Oman and Expansion of 23-Nation Alliance
Beyond condemning maritime aggression, India highlighted collective diplomatic measures and regional partnerships dedicated to protecting mariners:
Bilateral Rescue Cooperation: India placed on record its deep gratitude to the Sultanate of Oman and United Nations field officials for their timely coordination and logistical assistance in securing the extraction and safety of distressed Indian sailors during critical maritime emergencies.
Launch of Group of Friends: To build long-term international safeguards, India and Liberia recently co-founded the "Group of Friends for the Safety of Seafarers" during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session last month.
Expanding International Coalition: The multilateral coalition has already united 23 seafaring and coastal nations committed to strengthening legal protections, maritime security mechanisms, and rapid humanitarian evacuation protocols for commercial sailors navigating high-risk conflict zones.
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