New Delhi: IndiaWednesday condemned a string of attacks targeting four commercial vessels in the Black Sea over the past two days that left two of the 33 Indian nationals on board injured.
New Delhi renewed its call for dialogue and diplomacy to de-escalate tensions and restore regional peace, emphasising that attacks on commercial shipping and seafarers must cease immediately to ensure free and unimpeded international navigation.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, at the same time, referred to India’s ongoing conversations with Russia and Ukraine to push for a peaceful solution to the lingering conflict between the two countries.
We have ongoing conversations with both Russia and Ukraine in this regard, he said.
Jaiswal said New Delhi condemns the attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea region.
We have seen a string of attacks targeting commercial vessels in the Black Sea region. We condemn such attacks that threaten commercial shipping and endanger lives of our seafaring community, Jaiswal said at his regular media briefing.
Elaborating on the incidents, he said commercial vessel MV Royad Mammadov came under attack while it was sailing in the Black Sea.
There were three Indian nationals onboard. One of them was injured and has since received medical treatment. Our embassy in Romania is in touch with them for their safety and welfare, he said.
Jaiswal said a Togo-flagged ship, Alfa Watan, was attacked Tuesday and the fate of its crew is unknown.
Another vessel, the Palau flagged MV Able came under a drone attack, but fortunately all its 18 crew, including seven Indian nationals, have been rescued. One Indian national suffered injuries and is under medical supervision, he said.
Jaiswal thanked the Bulgarian authorities for their timely help, adding Indian mission in Bulgaria is offering all possible assistance to the seafarers.
The fourth ship which came under attack is the Liberian-flagged Aframax Rio, an oil tanker. All the crew, consisting of 23 Indian seafarers, have been rescued, he said.
Jaiswal said India has been consistently calling for dialogue and diplomacy to de-escalate tensions and enable early return of peace to the region.
The targeting of commercial shipping and seafarers in the region must end, and free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the international waterways must be restored at the earliest, he said.
Jaiswal, responding to a question on the Ukraine conflict, said India has consistently maintained that dialogue and diplomacy are the way forward.
The prime minister has on multiple occasions expressed that this is not an era of war, and that solutions will not emerge from the battlefield, he said.
The spokesperson said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting in Bishkek in August that time has come for endless war to give way to end of war.
In keeping with this idea to bring peace, India has engaged both sides. This has been appreciated by both Russia and Ukraine. You would have seen the comments made by President Putin and Foreign Minister Sybiha of Ukraine, he said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said Sunday that India has moved beyond advocacy and stepped up its efforts in recent months for resolving the Ukraine conflict by engaging in conversations with both Kyiv and Moscow.
Last week, Putin said Modi has good ideas to find a mutually acceptable solution to the conflict.
Ukraine Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Friday that Kyiv received separate proposals from India and three other nations for a possible ceasefire.
Insofar as specifics are concerned, the external affairs minister recently elaborated on them. He noted that we are trying to be helpful, starting with the Black Sea safety of shipping issue, addressing immediate concerns of Russia and Ukraine on grain and energy exports, and non-attack possibilities, Jaiswal said.
We have ongoing conversations with both Russia and Ukraine in this regard, he said.
