India, April 9 -- India on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire in West Asia, expressing hope that the development would pave the way for lasting peace while reiterating that dialogue and diplomacy remain essential to end the conflict.

In an official statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, "We welcome the ceasefire reached and hope that it will lead to a lasting peace in West Asia. As we have continuously advocated earlier, de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy are essential to bring an early end to the ongoing conflict."

The government its consistent position of pursuing peaceful resolution through diplomatic channels and highlighted the wider global impact of the crisis. "We expect that unimpeded freedom of navigation and ...