Kashmir Impulse Desk
New Delhi, Aug 31
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict in West Asia during talks in Bishkek on Monday.
PM Modi told Pezeshkian that India supported efforts aimed at securing lasting peace and stressed the need to protect civilians, civilian infrastructure, commercial shipping, and seafarers.
The two leaders met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
It was their first bilateral meeting since the Iran-US conflict began in February.
Modi also said India wanted to expand and diversify trade with Iran.
The Ministry of External Affairs said Modi expressed concern over the escalation of tensions and reiterated India’s position that disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.
Pezeshkian asked Modi to use India’s contacts with various parties to encourage them to move away from war and return to negotiations, according to an Iranian readout.
The Iranian president said continued war was in the interests of neither Iran nor the region and called for dialogue and cooperation.
Modi also said India was ready to work closely with Iran in multilateral forums including BRICS and the SCO.
He invited Pezeshkian to India for the BRICS summit.
