EAM S. Jaishankar said that there is "widespread anxiety" that the present conflict would extend further in the region. He expressed his concern about the situation in the Middle East and West Asia, saying on Thursday that there is "widespread anxiety" that the ongoing conflict would spread further in the region.
"The situation in the Middle East, West Asia for us, is an understandable concern. There is a widespread anxiety that the conflict would spread further in the region. Maritime trade has also been deeply affected. The human and material consequences of further escalation are truly serious. Any approach has to be fair and durable, leading to a two-state solution," the EAM said at the BRICS Outreach session in Kazan.
Representing Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the segment, Jaishankar underlined that conflicts and tensions need to be managed properly.
"This is not an era of war, Prime Minister Modi has said. Disputes and differences must be settled by dialogue and diplomacy. Agreements, once reached, must be scrupulously respected. International law should be adhered to, without exception. And there should be zero tolerance for terrorism," he said.
Citing that as the old order changes while inequities of the past continue, EAM said BRICS is a statement in itself and can make a real difference.
There were five key points he made to ensure that the benefits of change reach those who are currently left behind and a more equitable global order is created.
It included strengthening and enlarging independent nature platforms to provide more options and to avoid being used; reformed institutions and mechanisms, particularly the UN Security Council in both permanent and non-permanent categories; democratizing the world economy by establishing more hubs of production to create robust, redundant, and shorter chains; correcting distortions in infrastructure across the globe through connectivity options that strengthen logistics and reduce risks; and sharing experiences and new initiatives of common interest and relevance.
"These are India's Digital Public Infrastructure, the Unified Payments Interface, and the Gati Shakti infrastructure-all of greater relevance. Initiatives of common interest are the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, the Global Biofuel Alliance, Mission LiFE, and the International Big Cat Alliance. Indeed, as a First Responder, be it for natural calamities, health emergencies or economic crises, we seek to do our fair share, he said.
The plenary session of the 16th BRICS summit in the outreach/BRICS-plus format on Friday gathered leaders of CIS countries, delegations from Asian, African, Middle Eastern and Latin American countries, and heads of executive bodies of several international organisations.
