Kashmir Observer

Tired of Thinking? Come to a Conclusion

- Mirza Views expressed in the article are the author’s own and do not necessaril­y represent the editorial stance of Kashmir Observer Asad Mirza is a Delhi-based senior

Indian External Affairs Minoonnddi­sisseiecsc­ttitoeionr­n,wwShhiJcic­hahinsnoho­nan-nb-bki-iar has called fix’ to the ,conflict. In Security

er of na““OtOinonene­hsh,aaspstaotr­othihacavu­veleaarsls­tyotomtmha­aocchshefo­foirnrthth­tehessee Global South, believe that terrorism shouldn't be justified.

Though calling Hamas’ attack on Israel on 7 October, an act of terrorism, EAM Jaishankar said that Israel should have been “very

He also outlined key dimensions of the Israel-Palestine conflict so aOsOto have a lon g ter m an d a pSSer...m..a..n.e..n..t..s.o..l.u.t.i.o..n..t.o..t.h..e..i.s.s.u..e..

Jaishankar’s latest speech stresses two points that India, as the PM noted in his first reaction, after the 7 October attacks, emphasises that the Hamas’ attacks were a “terrorist attack”, yet it has further reiterated its age-old stand that the solution to the Palestinia­n issue, could be found only through a two stage solution.

However, the outlines of any such “two state solution” is yet to be defined and by the time the internatio­nal comity agrees to those parameters, a lot of innocent Palestinia­ns would have been killed in the on-going Israeli attacks.

What is of paramount importance here is an immediate cessation of hostilitie­s by the IDF, and an ensured flow of humanitari­an aid to the besieged Palestinia­ns.

In his speech EAM, also praised the efforts by the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, but Blinken

In his speech, Jaishankar also stated that a large number of nations, particbuot­ltalrelyof orsinee tnheearly Global Southtot,obokeklmim­eyvyessitn­ihnuaustse­etsesfrofr­ororaraiws­wmaalklk shouldn't be justified. He said that thePsPehhy­nysasicitc­sisowwnasa­ssbaaebblo­ioueuvttee­qaquutawat­itoion-snsts,a,btbeaalsal­aonn-ccee

countries, especially those in the Global South, believe that terrorism shouldn't be countenanc­ed or justified. But they equally strongly believe that a two-state solution should not be delayed. These are not choices. TDDihsiesp­psueutetae­rtethhbaat­o,tt,hheme’d’dussataysy,.,pAponoindi­ntutiningl­getsotsoaa

At the conference, Jaishankar also met with his Saudi Arabian co u nte r part Fais a bi n FaDDrhan Al S.a..u.d...a.n..d..d.i.s.c.u..s.s.e..d..t.h.e..W...e.s.t..A..s.i.a..s.i.t.-.. uation and the strategic partnershi­p between India and Saudi Arabia.

Notably, India and Saudi Arabia share centuries old economic and socio-cultural ties. Economic ties are an important aspect of the bilateral strategic partnershi­p between two nations, according to the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia.

If however, India and Saudi Arabia share the same page on the Palestinia­n issue, then it seems plausible that the war may end soon in Palestine. As Saudi is one of the prominent Middle Eastern nations, who are pursuing diplomatic efforts to get the conflict, ended as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, there are reports that Russia has invited various Palestinia­n factions to meet in Moscow on 26 February, the Palestinia­n Authority prime minister said on Sunday, adding that the PA was ready to engage with Hamas.

“Russia has invited all Pales

We will see if Hamas is ready to come to the ground with us” Mohammad Shtayyeh told the Munich Security Conference.

“We are ready to engage. If Hamas is not then that’s a different story. We need Palestinia­n unity,”

The Russian initiative has come radtahyesr­yealsloawi­snugripnra­ispelastto­ictshleevw­ee. sMtrerPnob­viwoursldl­y, ahrisremda­rks bayawwaarn­drydeeddin­totdoimfmf­eerineinnt­htcheei.rirAoowswn­fnasrsccie­iaensntitf­tiifhcicew­waayy qruerefelf­seletcicto­tanakkioni­fnddHnneae­smss. .as participat­ing at the 2I6fIfthFt­heebddirsi­usseaecrct­yitningmgo­oeffeaatfi­rfnoroggti­atsauugcgh­ohtntmsmie­dea-annyy-etrhtehind­ing,giRtitupps­oosiniinta­etedmdmame­yeinitnatk­htheedhdir­ierlecpcti­toionfnooi­ftfvsveegg-ceretuatac­ririaianln­isismamlla­yannddIara­kakininddn­tnoeessisn­totfolaual­llelanannc­imiemaalts­lhsgegrere­aatt Haaannmdds­asmsmalael­ll.al.SdScecieri­ensnhcceie­pprtoroovv­sidiideted­adtmmtehee­wwistiahth­maaneninin-tassibgigl­hehttainis­ntotootlha­lateetrera­rPalilatit­yly.e.TsThthiana­titiasins, and hammer out a long-term stand and policy for an earliest solution to the long running conflict.

AStcaiennc­iendteidrn­a’cttciavre sseseceuem­mrsisteyev­veercyroyt­hnthifnien­grgeisinsr­cerelalati­twviveie.t.ThThheterh­ereeisisnU­nooSeenndd, Snenococrc­oeontnaccl­rulyussioi­onfntSotot­babeteeddr­aArawnwntn­obbneecyca­auBuslseie­lnilkikees­nsoommee awnwidsise­eGpeperers­mrsoonanno­onFncoceer­sesaiaigdi­dn, npaplaleac­cneeawwhBh­eearereery­yboououcgk­goo,tttJitraie­riedsdhoof­aftnhtkhin­iankrkinin­aggl.”s.”o delved on the question of India’s alignment on non-alignment with Russia and the US.

When asked about the country's foreign policy priorities in the backdrop of observatio­ns that it is traversing from “non-alignment to all alignment” and its continued procuremen­t of crude oil from Russia notwithsta­nding Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Jaishankar asserted that India should not be criticised for having multiple options.

"Why should it be a problem? I am smart enough to have multiple options. You should be admiring and not criticisin­g. Is it a problem for others? I do not think so," he said.

This is not the first time that the EAM has forcefully put across India’s stand on its continued economic ties with Russia and the two state solution to the Palestinia­n issue. Rather it should be seen in the new paradigm shift of the global geopolitic­s, where India, once being a champion of non-alignment has been able to maintain ties with different ideologies based on its own

rather than being tutored by either super power.

 ?? ?? Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at a meeting with the Munich Young Leaders for
Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at a meeting with the Munich Young Leaders for

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