New Delhi: India on Saturday said it was deeply concerned over the "evolving escalation" in West Asia and urged all sides to exercise restraint and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy.
"Our Missions in the region are in contact with the Indian community," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. This comes after Israel carried out strikes on military sites in Iran on Saturday, further fuelling fears of a full-blown war between the two heavily armed countries.
Israel said the targeted facilities were used to make missiles fired at it, according to reports. "We are deeply concerned by the evolving escalation in West Asia and its ramifications for peace and stability in the region and beyond," the MEA said.
"We reiterate our call to all concerned to exercise restraint and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy. The ongoing hostilities are to nobody's benefit, even as innocent hostages and civilian populations continue to suffer," it said.
The West Asia conflict was discussed in "considerable details" during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz here on Friday.
On October 4 too, India had reiterated a call for restraint by all concerned in the Middle East conflict and expressed deep concern over the situation.
On October 11, too India Friday had expressed "concern" at the "deteriorating" security situation in parts of West Asia, amid reports that United Nations peacekeepers have been caught in the intensified fighting in southern Lebanon. The MEA had said that New Delhi continued to monitor the situation closely.
