India Expresses Deep Concern Over West Asia Violence at UNSC

India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, told a UN Security Council open debate on Tuesday that a “worrying resumption of attacks and escalation of hostilities” in West Asia after a brief pause was “deeply concerning” and demanded an immediate de-escalation of tensions (The Hindu). Speaking at the quarterly debate on the situation in the Middle East, Harish strongly condemned recent strikes on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, naming the GFS Galaxy, MT Al Bahiyah and MT Mombasa as among the ships attacked this month (Indian Express).

The envoy said several Indian citizens were injured, some seriously, one Indian seafarer was killed and another remains missing in those incidents (Indian Express). “India has consistently condemned acts of violence targeting seafarers and disrupting free and safe navigation through international waterways like the Strait of Hormuz,” Harish said, adding that the targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure must end and unimpeded navigation and commerce must be restored at the earliest in keeping with international law (The Hindu).

According to the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed again on July 11 following attacks on commercial vessels that began on July 6 (Google News India). Daily vessel transits, which had exceeded 100 before the conflict and recovered to 49 by July 7, fell to between eight and 15 by mid-July (Google News India). Harish underscored that West Asia is a region of “immense importance” for India, with bilateral annual trade of around $180 billion, cumulative foreign direct investment exceeding $31 billion and remittances of more than $52 billion from Gulf Cooperation Council countries alone (The Hindu). Nearly 10 million Indians live and work in the Gulf, and their safety and well-being are a key priority, he said (Indian Express).

Harish also warned that the international community’s focus on maritime security in the strait must not divert attention from the “dire humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip,” stressing that the loss of civilian lives and destruction of civilian infrastructure there require immediate action with a deep sense of urgency (Google News India). India’s development assistance to Palestinians amounts to around $175 million, he noted (Indian Express). The envoy reiterated New Delhi’s call for a return to dialogue and diplomacy as the only path to restoring peace, security and stability in the region (The Hindu).