India, Oct. 9 -- India and Liberia have strongly condemned recent attacks targeting commercial ships and seafarers in the Gulf and its vicinity and the Black Sea, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and greater coordination to protect maritime trade and the lives of crew members.

The countries, which are co-chairs of the United Nations' Group of Friends on Safety & Security of Shipping & Seafarers, issued a joint statement condemning the attacks

In the statement shared by the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York, the two countries described the attacks as "simply indefensible" and said they disrupted maritime trade and cost innocent lives.

The joint statement issued by India and Liberia called for ...