Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday responded to the escalating US-Iran-Israel conflict and said the situation in West Asia “is of grave concern to us”.
Modi said, in a joint press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, that “India supports resolving all conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy.” He added: “We will continue to work with West Asian countries to ensure the safety of Indians there.” Follow live updates on the impact of the Iran-US war on India
Prime Minister Modi also reiterated the stand of the Indian Foreign Police and said that India has always been an advocate of peace amid global tensions. “India’s position has always been clear on tensions around the world. India has consistently called for peace and stability, and when two democracies stand together, the call for peace becomes stronger,” he said.
Shortly after midnight on Monday, Prime Minister Modi said in a post on X that he held a phone call with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the current regional situation, and that he stressed the need for an “early cessation of hostilities.”
Late Sunday night, he also spoke with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and strongly condemned Iranian retaliatory attacks on the country.
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“I spoke with the President of the UAE, my brother Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He strongly condemned the attacks on the UAE and condoled the loss of lives in these attacks. India stands in solidarity with the UAE in these difficult times,” the Prime Minister said in a post on X.
He also thanked the UAE President for his “care” for the Indian community residing in the UAE. Prime Minister Modi said India supports “de-escalation, regional peace, security and stability.”
Prime Minister Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), India’s highest decision-making body on security and strategic matters, and reviewed the situation in West Asia and discussed the safety of Indians living and stranded in conflict-affected countries.
CCS members, including Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Home Minister Amit Shah and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, were among those present in the meeting.
An official statement said that the Indian Civil Service Commission directed all relevant departments to take the necessary measures to assist Indian citizens affected by the recent developments in the West Asia region.
“CCS expressed its grave concern about the safety and security of the large Indian community in the area,” the statement said.
