NEW DELHI:  In the backdrop of the ongoing military conflict between India and Pakistan, a senior official in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said “we should remain hopeful” that the existing situation does not escalate.

Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations) in the MEA, was responding to a query on the impact of any conflict on the economy and the resilience required in such matters.

Interacting with audience at an event hosted by Public Affairs Forum of India (PAFI), Ravi said, “Security, development and economic growth are highly inter-linked concepts around the world. In a conflict situation, the industry will naturally recoil. It will take time for the situation to improve,” Ravi said.