External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday addressed the rising tensions in the West Asia region in the Rajya Sabha, while urging all parties to “exercise restraint”.
“Our government issued a statement on February 20 expressing its deep concern and urging all parties to exercise restraint. We continue to believe that dialogue and diplomacy should continue to de-escalate tensions,” the Senate Emergency Mission said amid opposition slogans.
Highlighting that the ongoing conflict is of “particular concern” for India, Jaishankar said the country has interests in the stability of the West Asia region. “We are a neighboring region, and we have clear interests in West Asia remaining stable,” he said. “There are a million Indians living and working in the Gulf countries.”
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Jaishankar also said that two Indian sailors lost their lives in incidents related to the conflict. “We have lost two Indian (merchant shipping) sailors, one of whom is still missing,” EAM said.
Indian students in Tehran were transferred to Jaishankar
Regarding Indian students in the Iranian capital, Tehran, Jaishankar said that the Indian embassy there facilitated their transfer to places abroad.
He added that Indian citizens who were in Iran on a business trip were given facilities to cross into Armenia and then return to India. “Also in Iran, there are a few thousand Indians studying or working,” EAM said.
“Our embassy in Tehran remains fully operational and on high alert. We are committed to supporting the Indian community at this time…” the Foreign Affairs Minister added.
Jaishankar said the region is considered key to India’s energy security, given that it has “several important suppliers of oil and gas.” EAM added that supply chain disruptions and a “climate of instability” were serious issues.
“The conflict continued to escalate, and the security situation in the region deteriorated significantly. The conflict spread to other countries with increasing destruction,” Jaishankar said, referring to its impact on life and natural activities in the region.
