‘No issue can be resolved through military conflict alone’: PM Modi stresses rule of law, dialogue, and diplomacy amid West Asia tensions

He also said that they agree that “reforming global institutions to address the growing global challenges is not only necessary but also urgent”. This was with reference to India’s push for reforms at the UN Security Council, and other multilateral institutions. “And rooting out terrorism in all its forms is our shared commitment,” Modi said.

Stubb, on his part, said, “Today we discussed security issues in the region. We have conflicts in both regions, in West Asia and also, of course, in Ukraine. And for us, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has lasted for too long, four years. We agreed that ending the war is in everyone’s interests, a lasting peace can only be one that respects the principles of the United Nations.”

Earlier on March 3, for the first time since Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in strikes by Israel and the US, India had referred to the West Asia situation as “conflict in Iran and the Gulf region” and said “many lives have been regrettably lost and we express our grief in that regard”.

In New Delhi, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, had issued a detailed statement—without naming Khamenei–to make four points: express “deep concern and great anxiety” over the fast-deteriorating situation, impact on Indian nationals in the region along with trade and traffic, express condolences over the deaths due to the strikes, and Delhi’s efforts to help those in distress.

With Iran retaliating by targeting countries hosting US personnel and, in the process, widening the theatre of conflict, Jaiswal also linked the conflict to India’s “critical stakes” in the “security and stability of the region” and said “some Indian nationals have lost their lives or are missing” following the attacks in the last few days.

The MEA statement came on a day PM Modi had reached out to more leaders of countries in the region. Without naming Iran, Modi spoke to the leaders of Qatar, Oman and Kuwait, condemning the violation of their sovereignty and territorial integrity and “the urgent need to restore peace and stability in the region through dialogue and diplomacy”. This was in line with his earlier conversations with the leaders of the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.