UPDATE - India, US back 'humanitarian pauses' in besieged Gaza Strip

UPDATES WITH JOINT INDIA, US STATEMENT; CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEAD, EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) - India and the US on Friday extended “support for humanitarian pauses,” in the besieged Gaza Strip, according to a joint statement issued in New Delhi.

The statement was released after the foreign and defense chiefs of the two allies held a top-level ministerial dialogue in the Indian capital.

“The Ministers committed to continue coordinating with partners in the region on humanitarian assistance to meet the urgent needs of Palestinian civilians in Gaza,” the statement said.

“They expressed support for humanitarian pauses and committed to continue close diplomatic coordination, including with key partners in the region, to prevent the conflict from spreading, preserve stability in the Middle East, and work toward a political solution and durable peace.”

The two sides also reiterated their support for Israel against "terrorism" and called for adherence to international humanitarian law, including on the protection of civilians.

Earlier in the day, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar met their US counterparts, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, for the Fifth India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, continuing a series of meetings which began in 2018.