NEW DELHI, India: India had expressed serious concern over the worsening security situation in the Middle East, and said it opposes any attacks on merchant shipping.
“There are almost one crore (10 million) Indian citizens who live and work in the Gulf region. Their safety and well-being is of utmost priority. We cannot be impervious to any development that negatively affects them,” the External Affairs Minister said in a statement.
“Our trade and energy supply chains also traverse this geography. Any major disruption has serious consequences for the Indian economy. As a country whose nationals are prominent in the global workforce, India is also firmly opposed to attacks on merchant shipping,” it added.
More than 4.3 million Indians live in the United Arab Emirates, while 2.7 million are in Saudi Arabia and one million in Kuwait.
The Iranian armed forces have hit many American military and logistics facilities in the Gulf region after the joint Israeli-US attack on Iran.
The assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and senior leaders has created prospects for a wider regional war.
Iran has closed the vital sea route in the Strait of Hormuz amid continuing US-Israeli attacks.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Monday that the US had destroyed all 11 Iranian vessels operating in the Gulf of Oman.
The Indian statement referred to some deaths of Indian nationals in Iranian military operations.
Three Indians were killed in attacks on two merchant vessels off Oman and 20 have been injured elsewhere in the region, according to Indian media reports.
India said it will “continue to closely monitor the evolving situation and take relevant decisions in the national interest”.
Many countries, including the US, are trying to evacuate their citizens from the region as travel in the Gulf region remains disrupted amid military hostilities. – BERNAMA
