India joins SCO statement condemning Israeli, US strikes on Iran

New Delhi: India signed the Tianjin declaration that ‘strongly condemned’ military action by both Israel and the United States on Iran, The Wire reported.

The new development comes at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin on Monday, two and a half months after India refused to back a SCO statement condemning Israeli strikes on Iran, .

The declaration made it clear that the member states ‘strongly condemned the military strikes by Israel and the United States of America,’ alongside terming the military action ‘a gross violation of international law and the UN Charter’.

The statement said the attack, causing civilian deaths and damage to nuclear energy facilities, could ‘undermine regional and international security’ which would have ‘serious implications for global peace and stability’.

Previously on June 14, India refused to sign stand-alone SCO statement a day after the Israeli strikes began, with the Ministry of External Affairs at the time expressing ‘deep concern’ at the situation.

As many as 78 people were killed in the Israeli strike targeting Iranian military and nuclear sites on June 13, damaging the Natanz nuclear facility.

Those killed in the attack included three senior security officials and Tehran’s top nuclear negotiator Ali Shamkhani.

Subsequently, Iran hit back launching a barrage of missiles and drones, leading to further exchanges, with the US eventually attacking Iranian facilities.

While distancing itself from SCO’s statement, India joined a BRICS declaration on June 25 that expressed ‘grave concern’ without naming Israel or the United States.

Expressing “deep concern over the continuing escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict,”, Monday’s Tianjin declaration pointed to ‘numerous civilian casualties’ and ‘catastrophic humanitarian situation’ in Gaza.

The statement sought an ‘immediate, complete and sustainable ceasefire,’ alongside ensuring unhindered humanitarian access.