NEW DELHI, 3 September 2006 — India yesterday called for peace and stability in the Middle East.
“India’s main interest is in stability in its neighborhood because our crucial interests are involved in the region. We feel that Lebanon should be sovereign, united and at peace. We totally reject military action and recommend a return to path of peace both in Palestine and Lebanon,” Director General of Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) Talmiz Ahmad said. He was speaking at a panel discussion on “War in Lebanon: Implications for Regional and Global Politics.”
“Israel should go back to discussions and negotiations. There must be a robust United Nations role in this region. Israel has occupied certain territories and they must be returned,” Talmiz said.
On Palestine, he asserted that Israel must recognize the Hamas government elected by the Palestinian people through “fair and credible elections.”
Expressing hope that the conflict in the Middle East will be solved, Hamid Ansari, chairman of the Minorities Commission and former ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Iran, said: “We hope the sources of problem will be addressed and solved. Unless we deal with the sources of the problem, you will not get permanent peace. You will get cease-fire, and one ceasefire will lead to another war. So the West Asian problem has to be addressed in its totality.” In Ansari’s opinion, India should maintain “equilibrium” in its ties with the Arab states on the one hand and Israel on the other.
While speaking recently at another seminar, Ansari said:” The principal challenge will be to craft an approach that will maintain equilibrium between the technology-cum-strategic relationship with Israel and the political equations with the larger Arab and non-Arab states, some of whom are in the process of becoming partners in the energy calculus.”
India’s stand on peace in Lebanon has of late assumed a new importance because it has 673 troops serving there in the United Nations Interim Force for Lebanon (UNIFIL). Confusion over India’s prospects of withdrawing these troops has prevailed on probability of their mandate being changed from peacekeeping to peace enforcement.
That India is against any change in their status is suggested by recent remarks of Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee. He said: “We would like our troops to be in role as close to chapter six as possible,” that is perform only peacekeeping activities and not peace enforcement. For the “time being,” India is not considering withdrawing its troops from Lebanon, sources said.
