NEW DELHI: Amid the escalating West Asia conflict, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma urged India on Thursday to take the lead in mobilising the Global South and strategic-partner countries to collectively work towards the restoration of peace and order in the region.
In a statement, the former Union minister also called for national unity and said a mature response guided by national interests is the need of the hour.
"The world cannot remain a mute spectator to the collapse of rule based multilateral order and global crisis management mechanism. India has throughout history commanded respect for its moral authority and commitment to peace. There is much at stake, especially the future of the younger generation.
"India must endeavour to mobilise the global south and strategic partner countries to collectively work for restoration of peace and order," Sharma said.
He said the situation in West Asia, following the "unjustified" US-Israel attack on Iran and its retaliatory response, has resulted in a global upheaval and economic disruption of grave enormity.
India and all the countries dependent on the import of crude petroleum, LPG and natural gas from the Middle East and Gulf countries and supplies through the Strait of Hormuz face an unprecedented challenge, the Congress leader noted.
"We are today confronted with one of the worst energy crisis in history," he said.
The challenging situation, he said, tests both policy and diplomacy in shaping "our national strategic response".
"India has historic relations with Gulf countries and civilisational relationship with Persia-Iran. Besides critical energy supplies of petroleum, LPG-PNG, USD 200 billion of trade, the interest and security of 10 million strong Indian diaspora, also almost 60 per cent FOREX remittances, have to be borne in mind," Sharma said.
Lauding the efforts taken so far by New Delhi, he said, "Indian diplomatic handling of the crisis has been mature and skilful, avoiding potential minefields."
"India's response must be backed by a national consensus and resolve. Government has held an all-party meeting to apprise the leadership of political parties of the situation and policy decisions in an unpredictable and volatile situation.
"This national dialogue should be sustained. National unity and a mature response guided by national interest is the need of the hour," the Congress leader said.
Observing that the war has aggravated the energy, economic and global-security challenges, he said disruptions in global supply chains, tremors in world markets and a sharp depreciation of the rupee present an immediate and long-term challenge that needs to be urgently tackled.
He stressed that the enormity of the crisis must be fully registered.
Sharma has earlier handled the ministries of commerce and external affairs as a minister in the Congress-led UPA government.