Even as the US mulls unilateral military strikes against Syria for alleged use of chemical weapons, India on Saturday expresses reservations suggesting it will not support any action against the Bashar Assad regime which is not authorized by the UN.
Foreign minister Salman Khurshid described the situation as very complicated as he said India will remain committed to any action by the UN, reports The Times of India.
“When UN acts we are willing to take positions which are adverse to our friends as well…we will support the UN (on Syria) but difficult to say if we can go beyond that,” said Khurshid.
US President Barack Obama has already said that the US is looking at the possibility of a “limited, narrow act that would help make sure that not only Syria, but others around the world, understand that the international community cares about maintaining this chemical weapons ban and norm”.
Steering clear of the debate over evidence, or the lack of it, to suggest the involvement of Assad’s forces in use of chemical weapons, Khurshid said the deaths were completely unacceptable and tragic “no matter how they came”.
“Both sides have to abjure violence and we hope sanity will prevail,” said Khurshid.
India on Saturday asked all its citizens to leave Syria amid escalation of violence there and the US moving closer to military intervention in the war-torn country.
Spokesperson in the ministry of external affairs ministry Syed Akbaruddin said the earlier advisory for citizens asking them not to travel to Syria remained in effect. “We are in touch with our Mission in Damascus who are also in contact with approximately 25-30 Indian citizens in Syria. All Indian citizens are safe. Previously, we had advised all Indian citizens in Syria to return to India. They have once again been advised to leave Syria,” he added.
Source: UNBConnect
