New Delhi, Jun 10: India on Saturday asked Saudi Arabia and Qatar to resolve differences through dialogue, even as it stressed that all countries must work together to fight international terrorism.
With over eight million of its citizens living and working in the Gulf countries; India stated that it had “vital stakes” in peace and stability in the region and was monitoring the situation in the aftermath of the decision by Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Bahrain, Egypt and United Arab Emirates earlier this week to snap diplomatic relations with Qatar.
New Delhi asked its citizens in Qatar and other Gulf countries to keep in touch with embassies and consulates of India for assistance in case of any eventuality.
Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt on Monday snapped diplomatic relations with Qatar. They accused Qatar of supporting extremism and terrorism. Yemen and Maldives too joined them later. Riyadh, which led the move against Doha, is upset over Qater's ties with Iran, the main rival of Saudi Arabia in the region.
India on Saturday said that “all parties” should resolve differences “through a process of constructive dialogue and peaceful negotiations based on well-established international principles of mutual respect, sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries”.
New Delhi is closely following the emerging situation in the Gulf region in the wake of the recent decision by Saudi Arabia and some other countries, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
“India believes that peace and security in the Gulf are of paramount importance for the continued progress and prosperity of the countries in the region,” Gopal Baglay, spokesperson of the MEA, said. “International terrorism, violent extremism and religious intolerance pose grave threat not only to regional stability but also to the global peace and order and must be confronted by all countries in a coordinated and comprehensive manner.”
He underlined India's “time-tested friendly relations” with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
He said that Government was closely monitoring the situation and is also in regular contact with the regional countries.
“Their authorities have assured us continued support for welfare and well-being of the resident Indian communities,” said Baglay.
New Delhi advised Indian expatriates in the region to contact the Indian Embassy or Consulate concerned should they require assistance or advise consequent to the developing situation.
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