New Delhi, 17 April (H.S.):

India has welcomed the announcement of a 10‑day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, describing it as a positive step toward peace and stability in the region.

In a statement during a weekly press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi “welcomes the ceasefire” and reiterated that every move in the direction of peace merits appreciation. He added that India has consistently called for de‑escalation, restraint, and a return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy in the ongoing Middle East tensions.

Responding to Israel’s request that India designate Hamas as a terrorist organisation, Jaiswal noted that the country follows a well‑defined procedure for such decisions and that all related matters are addressed strictly within that framework. This, he said, underscores India’s principled approach to counter‑terrorism and regional security issues.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar