India calls for restraint after joint air strikes on Syria

India has called for restraint after the United States, the United Kingdom and France launched air strikes on Syria, accusing President Basher al-Assad's government of using chemical weapons against civilians in a rebel stronghold near Damascus.

New Delhi on Saturday urged "all parties" to "show restraint" and to "avoid any further escalation in the situation". India also called for "an impartial and objective investigation" by Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons into the allegation of use of chemical weapons by the forces loyal to Syrian President Basher al-Assad on civilians during its campaign against rebels at Douma outside Damascus.

"We have taken note of the recent strikes in Syria. India is closely following the situation. The alleged use of chemical weapons, if true, is deplorable," Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said.

"We call for an impartial and objective investigation by OPCW to establish the facts. We urge all parties to show restraint and to avoid any escalation," he said in a statement in New Delhi.

New Delhi said that "the matter" should be resolved through dialogue and negotiations, on the basis of the principles of the United Nations Charter and in accordance with international law. "We hope that the long drawn suffering of the people of Syria would come to an end soon," added Kumar.