In a guarded reaction to the agreement in Mecca for the formation of the National Unity government in Palestine, India on Tuesday said it had  'noted' the efforts underway for the formation of a Palestinian government.

It, however, said India had always supported the establishment of a sovereign, independent, viable state of Palestine, within well-defined and recognised borders, living side by side at peace with Israel through a negotiated solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict and in keeping with the relevant United Nations resolution.

"In this context, India has noted the efforts underway towards the formation of a Palestinian government of National Unity, in the expectation of a resumption of dialogue on the Israel-Palestine track," a spokesman for the External Affairs Ministry said.