Prime minister Narendra Modi called an emergency meeting of his Cabinet Security Committee (CCS) in light of the seriousness of the crisis developing in the Middle East on Sunday. After just returning from a two-day trip to Tamil Nadu, PM Modi called in his top ministers to assess how USA/Israeli strikes against Iran and retaliatory attacks have affected the Gulf region.
The primary concern for New Delhi is the safety of the staggering 9.6 million Indian nationals living and working in the region. With airspace being shuttered overnight and missile strikes reported near major hubs, the CCS was briefed on the immense logistical nightmare now facing Indian expatriates.
According to a statement from the Press Information Bureau, the committee took a hard look at the plight of stranded travellers and students whose examination schedules have been thrown into disarray. While the CCS has directed all government departments to take "necessary and feasible measures" to help those caught in the crossfire, officials have hinted that a mass evacuation is not yet on the cards. The volatility of the regional airspace makes any such operation nearly impossible for the time being.
The current conflict presents a formidable diplomatic tightrope for India. Only days ago, Modi was in Israel, addressing the Knesset and elevating ties to a "Special Strategic Partnership" in a high-profile show of solidarity. Now, with Iran — a crucial strategic partner for India — under direct fire, the government is treading carefully.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has already been on the phone to his counterparts in both Tehran and Tel Aviv, urging "restraint" and a return to the negotiating table. Meanwhile, Indian embassies across the region, from Damascus to Abu Dhabi, have activated 24-hour helplines.
For a country so deeply invested in the economic stability of the Gulf, the stakes could not be higher. The CCS concluded the meeting by reiterating India’s stance: an immediate end to hostilities is essential, as is a return to "dialogue and diplomacy" to prevent the entire region from sliding into an unmanageable war.
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