Modi assures Arab ministers of continued support to Palestine

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday assured Arab foreign ministers of India's continued support for the people of Palestine and welcomed ongoing peace efforts, including the Gaza peace plan.

Modi also conveyed his appreciation for the role played by the Arab League in supporting regional peace and stability.

The Prime Minister received a delegation of foreign ministers from Arab countries, the Secretary General of the League of Arab States and heads of Arab delegations who are in India for the second India-Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting.


Highlighting the deep and historic people-to-people ties between India and the Arab world, Modi said these links have continued to inspire and strengthen bilateral relations over the years.

He also outlined his vision for the future of the India-Arab partnership and reaffirmed India's commitment to deepening cooperation in trade and investment, energy, technology and healthcare, among other sectors.

Later addressing the gathering, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the meeting was taking place at a time of major global transition. "The global order is undergoing transformation for a variety of reasons. Politics, economics, technology and demography are all fully in play. Nowhere is this more evident than in West Asia, where the regional landscape has undergone dramatic change over the past year," he said.

Jaishankar said these shifts have direct implications for India's engagement with Arab nations. Referring to recent developments in the region, he said the situation in Gaza had drawn sustained international attention. He also cited ongoing instability in Sudan, Libya and Yemen.

The External Affairs Minister strongly underscored the need to combat terrorism. "Cross-border terrorism is particularly unacceptable as it violates the basic principles of international relations and diplomacy. Societies targeted by terrorism have the right to defend themselves. It is essential that we strengthen international cooperation to combat this global scourge. Zero tolerance for terrorism must be an uncompromising universal norm," he said.

Jaishankar said India was keen to expand cooperation into new and contemporary areas such as digital public infrastructure, space, start-ups and innovation. He added that both sides were also exploring collaboration in counter-terrorism and parliamentary exchanges.

He noted the launch of the India-Arab Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, saying the initiative would complement bilateral engagement and further strengthen economic ties.

Highlighting India's growing technological capabilities, Jaishankar said the country had developed people-centric digital solutions over the past decade. "Sharing experiences and best practices in these areas will be to our mutual benefit," he said.