No solution on the battlefield’: PM Modi calls for peace in West Asia – Times of India

Prime Minister Modi underscored a “collective desire for restoration of peace and stability in West Asia and Eurasia as soon as possible” and reiterated that “solutions cannot be found on battlefields,” and that India, in fulfilling its responsibilities as “vishwabandhu” , continue to make every effort to contribute to the peace efforts.
“I come from the land of Buddha and I have repeatedly said that this is not the age of war. It is essential to respect sovereignty, territorial integrity and international laws,” he said while addressing the East Asia Summit in Laos Friday.
In a message to Asean countries amid growing Chinese assertiveness, Modi said the approach to the region should be focused on development and not expansionism. He said a free, open, inclusive, prosperous and rules-based country Indo-Pacific is critical to the progress of the entire region, and peace, security and stability in the South China Sea are in the interests of the Indo-Pacific region.
Most of the countries affected by raging conflicts come from here Global South: PM Modi
We believe that maritime activities should be conducted in accordance with UNCLOS. Ensuring freedom of navigation and airspace is essential. A robust and effective code of conduct must be developed. And it should not impose restrictions on the foreign policies of regional countries, Prime Minister Modi said.
Calling for joint action against terrorism, he said the threat poses a serious challenge to global peace and security. “To combat this, forces that believe in humanity must come together and work together. And we must strengthen mutual cooperation in cyber, maritime and space,” he said. While endorsing ASEAN’s approach towards MyanmarModi said India believes it is crucial to support humanitarian assistance and implement appropriate measures for the restoration of democracy.
“We believe that Myanmar should be involved in this process and not isolated. As a neighboring country, India will continue to fulfill its responsibilities. Friends, the most negatively affected countries, due to ongoing conflicts in different parts of the world, are those from the South,” he said, adding that India has consistently supported the unity and centrality of Asean, which is also crucial for India’s Indo-Pacific Vision. and Quad collaboration.
The Prime Minister underlined the serious impact of conflicts on the South and emphasized that the path of dialogue and diplomacy, based on a humanitarian approach, must be followed for a peaceful resolution of conflicts in the world.