Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called for an immediate end to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi is uniquely positioned to facilitate de-escalation, given his relations with key countries in the region.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function and outside the Assembly complex here, Omar said, “We want the war to end as soon as possible. The role that the Prime Minister can play may not be possible for anyone else because of his good relations with all these countries.”
He said India’s ties with countries such as Iran, Israel and the United States could be leveraged to help ease tensions. “If those relationships can be used to make some progress and help de-escalate the situation, it would be a good thing,” he added.
Referring to the complexities of the conflict, Omar said that any escalation would be difficult to manage. He also cautioned that any aggressive move by Donald Trump, given Iran’s history of resisting external pressure, would not be easy to handle.
On the possibility of Pakistan playing a mediating role, Omar said any effort aimed at ending the conflict should be welcomed. “If any country can play a role in preventing this war, no one should have any objection to it,” he said.
He added that Pakistan has been leveraging its relations with Iran and the United States, and if such engagement helps in stopping the war, it should not be opposed. “We want the war to stop. If any country can play a role in that, it should. And if we can play an even better role, then we should do so,” he said.
Omar also referred to concerns flagged in a United States report, stating that attacks by terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed in India are not unlikely.
Last week also the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to leverage India’s diplomatic relationships to help bring an end to the ongoing US-Iran conflict. Stressing the need for peace, Abdullah said India is well-placed to play a constructive role given its ties with multiple stakeholders involved in the crisis.
He reiterated that the war is “unjust” and called for immediate de-escalation, arguing that continued hostilities will have wider regional and global consequences. These remarks come amid increasing calls from political leaders for India to take a more proactive diplomatic stance, even as New Delhi maintains communication with key countries and pushes for stability and open shipping routes in the region.
Follow us
