India ready to play role in help achieve peace in Middle East

India has expressed willingness to play its role to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East, while calling for dialogue rather than resort to arms to solve problems of the region, reported the Indo-Asian News service on Tuesday. Indian Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed said Monday during a debate in the UN Security Council on the situation in the Middle East that the issue of Palestine has taken a decisive turn in the history of the Middle East conflict after President Mahmoud Abbas filed an application for Palestine's full UN membership, according to the report. "While the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the most serious one in the region, we need to be mindful that resolution of this conflict by itself may not result in achievement of a comprehensive and durable peace in the region," he was quoted as saying, adding that other issues relating to Arab lands that remain under Israeli occupation are equally important. "Progress in the Lebanese and Syrian tracks of the Middle East Peace Process is, therefore, necessary for comprehensive and lasting peace in the region," he said, adding that it is important that the grievances of the people are addressed through dialogue and negotiations rather than resorting to arms.