Amidst escalating tensions in West Asia, India voices strong concerns over the safety of its nationals and the potential disruption to energy supplies, urging dialogue and diplomacy for a swift resolution.
Key Points
- India expresses concern over the intensified conflict in West Asia and its potential impact on one crore Indian nationals residing in the region.
- India highlights the risk of disruptions to trade and energy supply chains due to the West Asia conflict, which could have serious consequences for the Indian economy.
- India strongly advocates for dialogue and diplomacy to achieve an early resolution to the conflict in West Asia, emphasising the need to avoid further loss of life.
- The safety and well-being of Indian citizens in the Gulf region is India's utmost priority amidst the escalating tensions in West Asia.
- India opposes attacks on merchant shipping, given its significant presence in the global workforce and reliance on maritime trade routes.
India on Tuesday emphasised the interest of one crore Indian nationals in the region and voiced concern over possible disruptions in energy supplies because it could have serious consequences for the Indian economy.
New Delhi also strongly called for 'dialogue and diplomacy' to ensure an early end to the conflict, while noting that India has critical stakes in the security and stability of the region as a proximate neighbour and the current developments 'evoke great anxiety'.
In its second statement since the US and Israel attacked Iran and Tehran's subsequent retaliation, India said the safety and security of Indians living in West Asia is its 'utmost priority'.
'In recent days, we have not only witnessed an intensification of the conflict but also its spread to other nations. The destruction and deaths have mounted, even as normal life and economic activities come to a halt,' the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
'As a proximate neighbour with critical stakes in the security and stability of the region, these developments evoke great anxiety,' it said.
Some Indian nationals have lost their lives: MEA
The MEA, however, did not mention the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the United States-Israel strike.
'There are almost one crore Indian citizens who live and work in the Gulf region. Their safety and well-being is of utmost priority. We cannot be impervious to any development that negatively affects them,' it said.
'Our trade and energy supply chains also traverse this geography. Any major disruption has serious consequences for the Indian economy.
'As a country whose nationals are prominent in the global workforce, India is also firmly opposed to attacks on merchant shipping,' it said.
The MEA said that already, some Indian nationals have lost their lives or are missing as a result of the attacks in the last few days.
'In this background, India strongly reiterates its call for dialogue and diplomacy. We raise our voice clearly in favour of an early end to the conflict. Already, many lives have been regrettably lost and we express our grief in that regard,' the MEA said.
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