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India’s response to US-Israel war on Iran isn’t muted. Just read what SCO said on Khamenei killing

A close reading of the official statements made by India’s MEA, ASEAN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and Turkiye suggests that our reticence is not exactly an outlier.

India has been criticised, especially by the minority vote-dependent opposition parties and the Congress, for its muted response to the Israel-US attack on Iran. Some observers have wondered if we have picked sides in a war that will impact the Indian economy as much as the rest of the world. Sonia Gandhi has been particularly vocal in her critique of the government’s silence.

A close reading of the official statements made by India’s ministry of external affairs (MEA), the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and Turkiye suggests that our reticence is not exactly an outlier.

India’s initial statement, made on 28 February, has since been overtaken by events, with External Affairs Secretary, Vikram Misri, signing a condolence register at the Iranian embassy in Delhi. The initial statement was anodyne. It read: “India is deeply concerned at the recent developments in Iran and the Gulf region. We urge all sides to exercise restraint, avoid escalation, and prioritise the safety of civilians” It added: “Dialogue and diplomacy should be pursued to de-escalate tensions and address underlying issues. Sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states must be respected.” The last line is not as neutral as it sounds, since it is an indirect rebuke to Israel and the US which breached the sovereignty of Iran by jointly attacking it. But India did not........

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