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New Delhi: EAM S. Jaishankar spoke a stern word at an all-party meeting about the West Asia crisis on Wednesday, saying that India is not a "dalaal" (broker) country the likes of Pakistan.

In reaction to Opposition alarm over the perceived lack of advocacy by India in mediation processes on the US-Iran crisis, Jaishankar made it clear that New Delhi will not act as a go-between. Quotations have him saying, "We are not a dalaal nation," but he has been used by the US as an intermediary, including in 1981 with Iran and in 1971 with China.

Jaishankar pointed to the multi-alignment and close relationship of India with Iran but also reminded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote to US President Donald Trump that a rapid settlement of the conflict was necessary, as the war was causing pain to all. The government dismissed the idea that Pakistan has had a diplomatic upper hand in its noises of mediation.

India still strategizes on independent diplomacy and energy security instead of being an intermediary in world wars.