No military solutions to Syrian crisis: Salman Khurshid

With the US mulling an attack on Syria, India today said it would take a position on the crisis "when it becomes clear what is intended to be done" but stressed that there are no "military solutions".

"There are intermediate positions that are being considered by various countries on which we can only take a position when it becomes clear what is intended to be done," External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said.

The Indian position on the Syrian issue has been consistent and efforts must be made to get both sides to the dialogue table, he said on the sidelines of an event here.

"Violence is not the answer and there are no military solutions. I think this has been also agreed in the West," he said.

"It is also important that we do not jump to conclusions and ensure peace returns and there is a possibility of a dialogue that will lead to sustainable peace in Syria." The US Congress will on Friday debate President Barack Obama's plan to carry out a limited strike on Syria without involving ground forces over an alleged chemical weapons attack by President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Khurshid stressed that the use of chemical weapons must be prevented.

Western countries led by the US have accused the Syrian regime of using chemical weapons against civilians, a charge vehemently denied by the government.

"We think that if it is true that there has been use of chemical weapons, it is important that must be prevented," Khurshid said.