India has vital stake in peace in Persian gulf: Ansari

Vice President Hamid Ansari today observed that India has "vital stake" in peace and stability in the Persian gulf and in security of the sea lanes connecting it to the outside world.
Speaking on 'Link --West, India, GCC, Iran and Iraq' at Symbiosis International University at Lavale, near here, the Vice President noted, "India has a vital stake in peace and stability in this sub region and in security of the sea lanes connecting it to the outside world."
He said that stability in the Persian gulf is critical to global security and prosperity.
The Vice President said in the past two decades, a number of efforts principally focused on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the security challenges in the region.

"Any security agenda should be more inclusive and address not only military aspect of security but also issues such as regional economic development, counter terrorism, disaster response, drug smuggling in related matters," he said.
Ansari elaborated on Indian requirements that include access to regional oil and gas, security of sea lanes, freedom of navigation in the Persian gulf and continued access to markets for Indian trade, technology , workforce and 2-way investment.