New Delhi: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the ongoing conflict in Gaza and affirmed the need to achieve a two-state solution with the visiting Omani sultan, Haitham bin Tariq, who is the first Arab leader to visit India since violence broke out in the region over two months ago.The sultan is the first Omani head of state to visit India in 26 years. He took over in 2020 after the death of Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, who had last visited Delhi in 1997.After having arrived a day earlier, the sultan of Oman held formal talks with his host in Hyderabad on Saturday.At a media briefing after the discussions, foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra said that “given the developments in West Asia in terms of what’s happening there, in terms of multiple challenges that the ongoing conflict in Gaza has thrown up, that was definitely an important element of discussions between the two leaders”.He said that there was “shared appreciation of the continuing challenge that both countries face from the emerging multiple dimensions of the conflict, including the catastrophic humanitarian situation, which is there, the challenge of terrorism”.The foreign secretary also asserted that the two leaders were committed to the “larger need to find and try and achieve a two-state solution as a way forward”.Oman, which is known to have a moderate, balancing position in the Gulf, had initially called for both Israel and Palestine to exercise restraint after the Hamas terror attack of October 7. Following the heavy toll after Israel’s counter-strikes hit Gaza strip, Oman has called for an immediate ceasefire, as well as an international probe into Israeli actions.Besides, the two leaders unequivocally denounced terrorism in all its manifestations and agreed that no act of terror could be justified under any circumstances, as mentioned in the joint statement.Without naming any country, the joint statement also underlined the “need for all countries to abide by international law, respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations, refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, and resolve conflicts peacefully through dialogue and diplomacy”.India and Oman signed five agreements to enhance collaboration in information technology, combatting financial crimes, cultural exchange and the establishment of a Hindi chair under the Indian Council of Cultural Relations in Oman.The two countries also released a vision document which lays out a roadmap for strengthening bilateral engagement across 10 key areas.On the economic front, they announced the allocation of the third tranche amounting to $300 million for the Oman-India joint investment fund, which operates as a joint venture between the State Bank of India and the Oman Investment Authority.They also committed to expediting the negotiation and finalisation of a comprehensive economic partnership agreement.Speaking on maritime security cooperation and India’s interest in the Omani port of Duqm, Kwatra said, “I also talked to you about the fact that both leaders identified humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and related to that aspect of disaster management, as an important area of cooperation. Now, one of the key elements in the maritime cooperation always is the question of logistics, and I think Duqm in that sense provides us essentially a logistical base for cooperation between the two countries in the field of maritime cooperation, including humanitarian disaster relief.”