 "Syria situation 'very, very critical': India")
The situation in Syria is "very, very critical" and India is keeping a "close watch", External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said on Tuesday.
"We are keeping a close watch and are in touch with our mission there," Khurshid told reporters on the sidelines of a FICCI function here.
He said India has Lines of Credit and various investments in Syria. "Obviously all will come under a question if there is a war-like situation in Syria."
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"All we can do today is keep a watch, and keep ourselves informed that lives will not be in danger," Khurshid added.
His comments come in the wake of the Obama administration in the US saying that it has evidence that sarin nerve gas was used by the Syrian regime on its people and it could go ahead with military strikes against the Bashar al-Assad regime without the backing of the Congress.
ONGC Videsh (OVL) has stakes in two oil fields in Syria.
India's external affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said separately that India would prefer to await the "full results" of the probe by UN weapons inspectors on the alleged use of chemical weapons by Syria.
He said in a statement that "India has consistently called upon all sides to abjure violence so that conditions can be created for an inclusive political dialogue leading to a comprehensive political solution, taking into account the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people".
He said there can be "no military solution to this conflict. We continue to support the proposed 'International Conference on Syria' (Geneva-II), being the best prospect for a political solution, for bringing the Syrian government and the opposition to the negotiating table".
"On use of chemical weapons in Syria, India has consistently supported the complete destruction and elimination of chemical weapons worldwide. The international legal norm against the use of chemical weapons anywhere and by anyone should not be breached. However, we will prefer to await the full results of the UN inspection," the statement said.
Assad has challenged the US and France to provide evidence his regime used chemical weapons on civilians on Aug 21 in some areas of capital Damascus.
The US put the death toll at 1,429, including 426 children.
Syria has appealed to the United Nations to try to "prevent any aggression" against it.