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India urged restraint at the UN and condemned attacks across the Middle East. The appeal underscored risks to civilians, seafarers, trade and regional stability.
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Unitednations,Oct 16, 2026 07:54 IST
India has described the escalation of hostilities in the Middle East as "deeply worrying" and strongly condemned repeated attacks on civilian infrastructure, commercial ships and seafarers, news agency Press Trust of India reported.
Addressing a UN Security Council debate on the situation in the Middle East on Thursday, India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, called for restraint, immediate de-escalation and the resolution of conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy.
"India has very high stakes in the safety, security and stability of the Middle East," Parvathaneni said. "The people of the Middle East need normalcy and lasting peace. Peace is not just the absence of war. It is imperative to strengthen stability and security for the people of the region."
He said India was committed to the well-being of people in the region, which would contribute to a more secure, stable and prosperous world. All of India's actions would be guided by this approach, he added.
According to PTI, Parvathaneni strongly condemned recent attacks on civilian infrastructure, including airports in Saudi Arabia, which led to deaths, including that of Indian citizen Mohammad Yousef Ali in Riyadh. "India stands in complete solidarity with the Government and people of Saudi Arabia in defence of their sovereignty," he said.
Parvathaneni said attacks on commercial ships, seafarers and civilian infrastructure must stop. He also called for freedom of navigation and the safe and unhindered flow of maritime trade through international waterways in accordance with international law.
"The safety and security of seafarers remains a priority for the Government of India, and these recurring attacks risk further aggravation of a very volatile situation," he said.
The ambassador told the council that recent attacks on commercial ships were deeply concerning. These included attacks on the India-flagged MV DP World Cauvery this week, MT Petro Dolphin and MT Valthera last week, and MT On Peace and MT Kazimah III the previous week.
"All attacks on commercial shipping and merchant mariners are legally and morally indefensible. Several of these ships have Indian seafarers, and their safety and security is our direct responsibility," Parvathaneni said. He thanked the authorities in Oman and the UAE for their support in ensuring the safety of Indian seafarers during these attacks.
Amid the rise in such attacks, India and Liberia launched a "Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers" on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly's high-level week last month. Parvathaneni said 23 member states had joined the initiative and were ready to improve coordination to prevent recurring attacks and protect seafarers' rights.
Nearly two million seafarers operate the world's merchant fleet, while maritime shipping accounts for four-fifths of global trade. Parvathaneni described the group as an inclusive, voluntary and action-oriented platform aimed at strengthening cooperation and encouraging practical measures.
Referring to the BRICS Leaders' Summit hosted in New Delhi last month, he recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had proposed establishing a "Seafarers Emergency Support Network". The network could connect maritime authorities and embassies of the countries concerned and help with distress alerts, medical assistance, communication with families and evacuation support when needed.
On Yemen, India reaffirmed its commitment to the country's unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity and rejected interference in its internal affairs. "We strongly condemn attacks on maritime navigation and on the seafarers, many of whom are Indian citizens. The protection of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Southern Red Sea is a shared international responsibility and is a global interest," Parvathaneni said.
India also said the global focus on the crisis affecting merchant shipping and the Strait of Hormuz must not divert attention from the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. Parvathaneni said terrorism anywhere had no justification and recalled that India had unequivocally condemned the attacks of October 7, 2023.
"India will continue to stand for humanitarian relief, dialogue and diplomacy and a negotiated Two-State Solution. The international community must act in unison to prevent any further loss of civilian lives and destruction of civilian infrastructure," he said. India strongly believes that durable and sustained peace requires a two-state solution, which is receiving growing international support, he added.
Parvathaneni said India was also a leading emerging donor to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, with cumulative contributions of more than $52 million. India had also given the UN agency operational flexibility in using its contributions.
On Lebanon, India said peacekeepers serving with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon work for international peace and security under UN Security Council mandates and must never be targeted. India strongly condemned all attacks on UNIFIL peacekeepers and said their safety and security remained a high priority.
"The sanctity and inviolability of UN premises must be fully respected. We reiterate the importance of preparing for a post-UNIFIL scenario and supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces in this regard," Parvathaneni said.
India reiterated that attacks on civilians, commercial shipping, seafarers and UN peacekeepers must stop, while calling for de-escalation, humanitarian relief and diplomatic efforts towards lasting peace across the Middle East.
With PTI Inputs
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