Insta
India Abstained From The Syria Ceasefire Vote At The UN. Here’s Why
Swarajya Staff
Dec 16, 2016, 12:52 PM | Updated 12:52 PM IST
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
As Bashar Al Assad’s army and Syrian rebels clash to take control of Aleppo, members of the United Nations voted on a UN General Assembly resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Syria. India, along with 35 other countries abstained from voting.
One of the most important force behind India’s decision to not support the resolution was its traditional approach of not mixing humanitarian issues with international politics. However, there are two cold realities of geopolitics that explain India’s take on the crisis better.
First, India has enjoyed good relations with Syria. The country, which was suspended by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in 2012 for “suppressing” the Syrian revolt, has supported India’s stand on Kashmir. OIC, which hosts some of the most authoritarian Islamist regimes, has also criticised India over “alleged human rights violations” in Kashmir.
Second, New Delhi wishes to maintain a balance between India’s relationship with the United States and Russia. While it draws closer to the United States in the defence sphere, India wants to ensure that its relationship with Russia remains cordial.
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Support Swarajya's 50 Ground Reports Project & Sponsor A Story
Every general election Swarajya does a 50 ground reports project.
Aimed only at serious readers and those who appreciate the nuances of political undercurrents, the project provides a sense of India's electoral landscape. As you know, these reports are produced after considerable investment of travel, time and effort on the ground.
This time too we've kicked off the project in style and have covered over 30 constituencies already. If you're someone who appreciates such work and have enjoyed our coverage please consider sponsoring a ground report for just Rs 2999 to Rs 19,999 - it goes a long way in helping us produce more quality reportage.
You can also back this project by becoming a subscriber for as little as Rs 999 - so do click on this links and choose a plan that suits you and back us.
Click below to contribute.