Deploring the violence in Darfur and terming the situation in the troubled region of Sudan as worrisome, India has urged all parties in the conflict to enter the process of peaceful negotiation without any delay.
Ahead of a referendum that may split Sudan in two, Indian ambassador to the UN, Hardeep Singh Puri, said it is important to be cautious of the situation to prevent violence from breaking out in the aftermath of the referendum.
He insisted that any solution to the ethnic conflict has to involve the Sudanese stockholders.
"Apart from the referendum and post-referendum issues, the situation in Darfur also remains worrisome.
"We deplore violence in Darfur by all sides and call on the parties to resolve the problem through peaceful negotiations," Mr Puri said in his remarks during the UN Security Council discussion on Sudan.
He said it is necessary that the two groups — the Sudan Liberation Movement/Abdul Wahid and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) join the Doha peace process without further delay and conditions.
Mr Puri said there are worrying signs of tense inter-tribal relations, violation of human rights and continuing violence, including several incidents directed against the UN forces.
"These should alert us to the dangers, which exist and need to be dealt with so that the situation does not take turn for the worse in the aftermath of the referendum.
"In this context, it is heartening that the UN has developed a contingency plan for the period till June 2011. We expect that this plan as well as the joint strategic assessment, being prepared by the UN country team and UNMIS, would be discussed thoroughly with all the stockholders in the Sudan," he said.
He pointed out that no plan and assessment can be effectively and efficiently implemented without cooperation of the authorities in northern and southern Sudan.
Observing that the primary responsibility for full implementation of all the terms of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement lies with the Sudanese parties, he said no solution imposed from the outside can last long.
"In order that the pending issues are resolved comprehensively and permanently, it is imperative that their ownership rest with the Sudanese stockholders.
"We should encourage the parties to remain committed to peaceful resolution of the remaining problems," he said.
"In this connection, various UN bodies led by the SRSG and the African union high-level implementation panel should use all the resources at their command to help the parties reach settlements," he said.