New Delhi, April 10 (NationPress) On Friday, the Congress party expressed its support for the developing ceasefire between the United States and Iran, calling it a crucial advancement towards reducing tensions in West Asia. The party condemned targeted assassinations, illegal wars, and civilian assaults as unacceptable crimes against humanity and violations of global norms.

In a resolution passed by the Congress Working Committee, the party urged the Union government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, to collaborate with the Opposition to reestablish India’s long-standing identity as a proactive advocate for global peace, according to their statement.

“The BJP-led government must involve the Opposition to urgently recalibrate and implement a cohesive national strategy aimed at reinstating India’s historical role as a principled, proactive, and credible advocate for peace and a fair international order,” it asserted.

The Congress Working Committee highlighted foundational international laws, such as the Geneva Conventions, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and specific articles from the United Nations Charter, which prohibit the use of force against state sovereignty and promote peaceful dispute resolution.

Since India gained independence in 1947, successive governments have adhered to these global principles, drawing from a foreign policy tradition grounded in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam ('the world is one family'), Mahatma Gandhi’s principle of Ahimsa (non-violence), and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s non-alignment policy,” they noted.

Referencing Article 51 of the Constitution, which emphasizes respect for international law and treaty obligations, the party remarked that “India has consistently and constructively intervened against apartheid in South Africa, participated in the Korean War through the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission, supported anti-colonial movements across Asia and Africa, and acted as a principled voice within the Non-Aligned Movement and the Global South. This is reflected in its ongoing diplomatic efforts to mediate conflicts in various regions, including Hungary, Egypt, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, as well as its contributions to humanitarian relief and United Nations peacekeeping missions.”

Highlighting India’s historical interventions during apartheid and the Korean War, the Congress Working Committee noted that India was instrumental in founding the Non-Aligned Movement at the 1961 Belgrade Summit, supporting decolonization across Asia and Africa while hosting the 1983 Summit.

The statement added, “India has mediated crises such as the 1956 Suez conflict (Hungary-Egypt linkage), efforts for peace in Vietnam, and post-2003 Iraq reconstruction diplomacy. With over 280,000 troops deployed in 50 peacekeeping missions since 1948, including current operations in Lebanon and South Sudan, India’s contributions remain unparalleled (according to United Nations Peacekeeping data, 2025).”

The party criticized the Union government for “relinquishing strategic and diplomatic space,” allowing “Pakistan to improve its global image and obscure its history of inciting regional instability through cross-border terrorism targeting India, Afghanistan, and Iran.”

The Congress also highlighted the rising costs associated with maritime trade uncertainty in West Asia, which have adversely affected the economy.

“The ceasefire presents India with an opportunity to reassess increasing costs. Following the October 2023 Israel-Hamas conflict, India’s energy imports from West Asia, which account for 40 percent of oil (according to Petroleum Ministry 2025 figures), have faced interruptions, leading to surging LPG and fertilizer prices, as evidenced by shortages in 2024 amid Red Sea attacks (as reported by the Reserve Bank of India),” it added.

“Deteriorating relations with Iran and its regional proxies have weakened India’s role as a security provider in the Indian Ocean, while its leadership in the Global South has diminished amid perceived alignment with Western interests (analyses from the 2024 BRICS Summit),” the statement concluded.