India condemns the attacks on the UAE and stands in solidarity with them while supporting de-escalation and regional peace, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed during a phone call on Sunday.
The two leaders spoke after Iran continued to launch missile and drone strikes against several West Asian countries where US military bases are located, including the United Arab Emirates, in response to joint Israeli-US air strikes on Saturday that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several senior military commanders.
“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 offered my condolences for the loss of lives in these attacks,” Modi said in a social media post.
“India stands in solidarity with the UAE in these difficult times,” he said. “We support de-escalation, regional peace, security and stability.”
Modi said that he thanked Sheikh Mohammed for taking care of the Indian community in the UAE.
The UAE is home to nearly four million Indians, and their remittances reach billions of dollars. The UAE is also an important energy exporter and a major trading partner for India, with bilateral trade worth more than $100 billion annually.
Hindi was among 58 foreign workers injured in Iranian attacks on the UAE since Saturday. The UAE Ministry of Defense said on Sunday that three citizens from Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan were also killed in missile and drone attacks.
Earlier in the day, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to his Omani counterpart Badr Al Busaidi to discuss the situation in the region. Oman participated in mediating last-minute talks between Iran and the United States before launching military strikes on Tehran and other cities.
“I had a phone call this evening with Omani Foreign Minister @badralbusaidi. I expressed my appreciation for his assessments and thoughts on the ongoing conflict,” Jaishankar said on social media.
India has maintained a delicate balance while responding to the evolving situation in West Asia in the wake of the military strikes launched by the US and Israel on Iran. The Indian side maintained a cautious silence on Khamenei’s killing, and a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday urged all stakeholders in West Asia to exercise restraint and avoid escalation while calling for dialogue and diplomacy to address the underlying issues.
The statement also stressed the importance of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries.
More than 10 million Indians live and work in West Asian countries. Iran is also home to nearly 10,000 Indians, including students and professionals, while more than 40,000 Indians live in Israel, including thousands of caregivers and construction workers.
Indian missions in Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have issued warnings urging Indian citizens to be cautious and avoid non-essential travel.
