The Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday stressed the need for de-escalation in West Asia, citing concerns over the safety of Indians in Gulf countries as conflict spreads in the region.
The ministry said in a statement that there are approximately one million Indian citizens living and working in the Gulf region. “Their safety and well-being are the highest priority,” the Foreign Ministry said. “We cannot be immune to any development that negatively affects them.” She added: “As a close neighbor with critical interests in the security and stability of the region, these developments raise great concern.”
It also “strongly opposed” attacks on commercial ships, saying some Indian citizens had already lost their lives or were missing “as a result of such attacks in the last few days.”
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This comes after an Indian sailor was killed on board the crude oil tanker “MKD VYOM” after it collided with an unmanned boat off the coast of Oman.
Tensions between Washington and Tehran extended on Saturday after joint American and Israeli strikes on Iran that also led to the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Following this, Iran launched retaliatory strikes on US military facilities and other sites in the Gulf states, including the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan and Kuwait, escalating the conflict.
India calls for “dialogue and diplomacy” in West Asia and is in contact with governments in the region
India also reiterated its call for “dialogue and diplomacy,” stressing at the same time that it “supports an early end to the conflict.” India is in touch with governments in the conflict-torn region, as well as with key partners, she said, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to their counterparts.
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“We expressed our deep concern over the start of the conflict in Iran and the Gulf region on February 28, 2026. Even then, India urged all parties to exercise restraint, avoid escalation and prioritize the safety of civilians,” the agency said. The ministry said it was unfortunate that the situation in the region deteriorated “significantly and continuously” during the month of Ramadan.
“In recent days, we have not only seen the conflict intensify, but also its spread to other countries. Destruction and deaths have escalated, even as normal life and economic activities have come to a halt,” the MEA statement said.
The ministry said that Indian embassies and consulates in the region are in regular contact with Indian citizens, and issue frequent warnings. The agency added: “They have also provided all possible assistance to those stranded by the conflict. Embassies and consulates will continue their work proactively in addressing the various consular aspects of this conflict.”
