PM Modi closely monitoring West Asia conflict; safety of Indians top priority: EAM Jaishankar in RS

New Delhi — External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Monday informed the Rajya Sabha that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is closely tracking the evolving situation in West Asia, emphasising that the safety of Indian citizens remains the government’s foremost concern amid the ongoing conflict in the region.

At the start of the session, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge attempted to raise the issue of Indian nationals who had died during the conflict.

His remarks led to protests from members of the Treasury benches, prompting Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan to ask Kharge to conclude his intervention before inviting the External Affairs Minister to make a statement in the House.

Speaking amid loud sloganeering by Opposition members, Jaishankar addressed the developments in West Asia and said the conflict began following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which resulted in extensive damage and the deaths of several senior leaders of the Islamic regime.

He noted that the situation had since deteriorated further, with tensions spreading across multiple countries in the region.

“Our government issued a statement on February 20 expressing deep concern and urging all parties to exercise restraint, avoid escalation and prioritise the safety of civilians. We continue to believe that dialogue and diplomacy are the only viable path to de-escalation,” the minister said.

“It is equally important that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries in the region are respected,” he added.

Jaishankar told the House that the Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Modi, had reviewed the situation and discussed the challenges faced by Indian nationals living in the region as well as those transiting through it.

He said all ministries had been instructed to take necessary steps to address the situation and assist Indian citizens, adding that the Prime Minister has been regularly reviewing developments related to the crisis.

“PM Modi has spoken with the heads of state of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Jordan, Israel and Bahrain. We are urging all sides to work towards reducing tensions,” he said.

The minister stressed that the conflict has serious implications for India given the large presence of Indian citizens in the Gulf region.

“This conflict is of particular concern to India. Nearly one crore Indian citizens live and work in the Gulf countries. In Iran as well, a few thousand Indians are present for education and employment,” he said.

Jaishankar also highlighted the strategic importance of West Asia for India, noting its key role in the country’s energy security and trade.

“The region is crucial for our energy needs and includes several major suppliers of oil and gas. The Gulf region is also a major trading partner for India, with bilateral trade amounting to nearly $200 billion annually. Over the past decade, the region has also emerged as a significant source of investment in the Indian economy. Therefore, any disruption to supply chains and the prevailing instability are matters of serious concern,” he said.

He further pointed out that the conflict has affected maritime shipping operations in the region, where a large number of Indian nationals work as crew members.

“Unfortunately, we have already lost two Indian mariners and one individual remains missing in these incidents,” the minister said.

Jaishankar informed the House that the government had been closely monitoring developments in West Asia since the 12-day conflict in June 2025.

“We had noted early signs of rising tensions and accordingly cautioned the Indian community in Iran,” he said.

According to the minister, the government issued multiple advisories to Indian citizens in Iran as the situation worsened.

In January, Indian nationals were advised to avoid non-essential travel to Iran, while those already present were urged to register with the Indian Embassy and remain vigilant by following updates issued through official channels.

The Indian Embassy in Tehran later issued another advisory on February 14, urging Indian citizens to leave the country using available transport options and offering assistance for their departure.

A similar advisory was issued again on February 23, he added.

The minister said evacuation efforts were subsequently initiated to ensure the safe return of Indian nationals, including students studying in Iran, as the situation continued to worsen.

Meanwhile, Opposition members continued raising slogans in the House even as the External Affairs Minister delivered his statement.

With inputs from IANS