New Delhi: India has formally dissociated itself from a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) statement that strongly condemned Israel’s military strikes on Iran. The SCO, of which Iran is also a member, termed the attacks a violation of international law and the UN Charter. However, India clarified it had not participated in the decision-making process and issued a separate statement reflecting its own stance.

The SCO statement, issued earlier on June 14, described Israel’s June 13 strikes as “aggressive actions against civilian targets” and a “gross violation” of Iran’s sovereignty, resulting in civilian casualties and threatening global peace. It specifically referred to damage to Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility and the killing of 78 people, including senior security officials and top nuclear negotiator Ali Shamkhani.

While the SCO made no mention of dissent from any member, India simultaneously released a statement stating that it did not participate in the discussions regarding the condemnation. “India did not participate in the discussions on the above-mentioned SCO statement,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted. “Our position was shared with member states in advance.”

India reiterated its call for restraint and diplomacy. “We urge that channels of dialogue and diplomacy be utilised to work towards de-escalation,” the MEA stated. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also spoke to his Iranian counterpart, expressing global concerns and urging both nations to return to diplomatic efforts and avoid further escalation.

India’s reaction to the growing conflict has been notably cautious. On Friday, it had expressed being “deeply concerned” about the developments between Iran and Israel. A day earlier, India abstained from voting on a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, reversing its previous support for a similar resolution six months ago.

In contrast, several other Asian countries reacted more forcefully to the Israeli strikes:

Japan’s foreign minister Takeshi Iwaya condemned Israel’s actions as “completely unacceptable,” particularly in light of ongoing diplomatic talks between Iran and the US.

China, which currently chairs the SCO, described the Israeli attacks as a violation of Iran’s sovereignty and called for restraint.

South Korea expressed “deep concern” and condemned actions that destabilize the region.

Indonesia, which does not maintain diplomatic ties with Israel, called the strikes “unlawful” and a violation of international law.

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim issued a strong condemnation, stating the attack was aimed at sabotaging US-Iran nuclear negotiations and deflecting attention from Israel’s conduct in Gaza.

Other countries, including Vietnam, the Philippines, and Singapore, issued more muted responses, with Singapore simply urging restraint.

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London, Aug 5 (PTI): An Indian-origin taxi driver based in Ireland for over 23 years has become the latest to be targeted in an unprovoked attack in the capital Dublin, with local police (Gardai) launching an investigation into the violent assault.

Lakhvir Singh, in his 40s, told local media that he picked up two young men in their 20s on Friday night and dropped them at Poppintree, in the Ballymun suburb of Dublin.

Upon arriving at the destination, the men are said to have opened the vehicle door and struck him twice on the head with a bottle. As the suspects fled, they reportedly shouted: "Go back to your own country".

"In 10 years I've never seen anything like this happen," Singh told ‘Dublin Live’.

"I'm really scared now and I'm off the road at the moment. It will be very hard to go back. My children are really scared," he said.

A Dublin police spokesperson said Singh was taken to the city's Beaumont Hospital with injuries determined as not life-threatening.

"Gardaí are investigating an assault reported to have occurred in Poppintree, Ballymun, Dublin 11 at approximately 11:45 pm on Friday, 1st August 2025. A man, aged in his 40s, was brought to Beaumont Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injury. Investigations are ongoing," the spokesperson said.

The incident followed an Indian Embassy advisory, also issued on Friday, expressing safety concerns following recent attacks in and around the capital Dublin and urging Indian citizens to take safety precautions.

"There has been an increase in the instances of physical attacks reported against Indian citizens in Ireland recently,” states the advisory.

“The embassy is in touch with the authorities concerned in Ireland in this regard. At the same time, all Indian citizens in Ireland are advised to take reasonable precautions for their personal security and avoid deserted areas, especially at odd hours," the statement reads, adding emergency embassy contact details as 0899423734 and cons.dublin@mea.gov.in.

It came in the wake of a brutal attack on a 40-year-old Indian man at Parkhill Road in the Tallaght suburb of Dublin on July 19, described as “mindless, racist violence” by locals.

The Gardai had opened an investigation into the case and Indian Ambassador to Ireland Akhilesh Mishra was among those who took to social media to express shock over the attack.

“Regarding the recent incident of physical attack on an Indian national that happened in Tallaght, Dublin, the embassy is in touch with the victim and his family. All the requisite assistance is being offered. The embassy is also in touch with the relevant Irish authorities in this regard,” the embassy said in a social media post days after the incident.

A Stand Against Racism protest was also held by the local community in condemnation of what was described as a "vicious racist attack" and to express solidarity with migrants.

Last week, Dr Santosh Yadav took to LinkedIn to post details of a “brutal, unprovoked racist attack”.

The entrepreneur and AI expert stressed that it was not an isolated incident and called for “concrete measures” from the governments of Ireland and India to ensure Indians feel safe to walk the streets of Dublin.

His post revealed that a group of six teenagers attacked him from behind as he walked to his apartment in Dublin.

“This is not an isolated incident. Racist attacks on Indian men and other minorities are surging across Dublin — on buses, in housing estates, and on public streets. Yet, the government is silent. There is no action being taken against these perpetrators. They run free and are emboldened to attack again,” reads Yadav's post.

Fine Gael party Councillor for Tallaght South, Baby Pereppadan, was among those who expressed concern following last month’s attack.

“People need to understand that many Indian people moving to Ireland are here on work permits, to study and work in the healthcare sector or in IT and so on, providing critical skills,” he said.