New York, July 29 -- India on Tuesday (local time) called for an immediate de-escalation of tensions in West Asia, condemned recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, and urged the international community to not to lose sight of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Addressing the United Nations Security Council's Quarterly Open Debate on the Situation in the Middle East, India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, said the region remains of immense strategic importance to India due to its trade, energy and people-to-people ties.

"Middle East, which is West Asia, is a region of immense importance to India. Our stakes in the security and stability of the region are high. India's trade and en...