Discussed the full normalisation of relations between UAE and Israel announced yesterday,” Jaishankar tweeted. West Asia was home to nearly 8 million Indians before the Covid-19 outbreak, and New Delhi has a deep interest in the peace and stability of the region. As external affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava pointed out during a regular news briefing, India perceives West Asia as its “extended neighbourhood”. “India has consistently supported peace, stability and development in West Asia, which is its extended neighbourhood. Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif described the deal as “dangerous and illegitimate” and said “this is stabbing the Palestinians in the back”.

Source: Hindustan Times August 14, 2020 16:19 UTC