India against military intervention in Syria: Salman Khurshid

Bishkek, Sept 13: India on Friday expressed deep concern over the conflict in Syria, saying world powers should not resort to any military intervention in that country.

"India is deeply concerned at the ongoing conflict in Syria and is closely watching the fast paced developments," External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said in his address at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) Heads of State Summit here.

"We have consistently called upon all sides to abjure violence so that conditions can be created for an inclusive political dialogue leading to a comprehensive political solution, taking into account the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people," he said.

Stressing against any external military intervention in Syria’s affairs, Khurshid said: "We are encouraged by the current proposal, steered by Russia, that is aimed at bringing the Syrian chemical stockpile under international control.

The US has been pushing for military intervention in Syria.

"This proposal is in alignment with India’s own consistent stance of supporting the complete destruction and elimination of chemical weapons worldwide." India sees any move in this direction, "within the framework of the UN, as a positive development", he said.

"We are hopeful that this development will reinvigorate the peace efforts towards a political solution to the Syrian conflict, including the early holding of the proposed International Conference on Syria (Geneva-II), bringing all parties to the conflict to the negotiating table," he added.

The US has been pushing for military intervention in Syria after an alleged chemical weapons attack by President Bashar al-Assad's regime killed over 1,000 people.

PTI