New Delhi [India], July 14 (ANI): Thirteen Indian nationals have been killed, and three others remain missing in the Gulf region since the outbreak of the conflict in West Asia in February, government sources said Tuesday.
Fresh tensions have emerged in West Asia, with strikes involving Iran and the United States casting a shadow over the interim peace agreement between the two countries. The conflict began on Feb. 28, with Iran on one side and the United States and Israel on the other. The hostilities have disrupted maritime transit and global energy supply chains.
India on Tuesday said it is closely monitoring developments in West Asia and called for safe and unimpeded navigation and the free flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz.
Responding to questions during the weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India is deeply concerned about the attacks on two vessels in which one Indian national was killed.
“We are closely following the developments in West Asia. We continue to call for safe and unimpeded navigation and the flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz. This is key to ensuring the economic and energy security of people across the world,” he said.
Jaiswal said the Ministry of External Affairs had issued a statement after summoning Iran’s Deputy Chief of Mission and conveyed India’s deepest concerns over the attack on two vessels — MT Al Bahiyah and MT Mombasa — during their transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
The two vessels were carrying 30 Indian seafarers among their combined crew of 46. Of the 12 Indian nationals aboard MT Al Bahiyah, one was killed and another was injured. Of the 18 Indian nationals aboard MT Mombasa, nine sustained injuries, including two who are reported to be seriously injured.
“We issued a statement after summoning the Deputy Chief of Mission of Iran. We conveyed to them our deepest concerns and strongly condemned what had happened. We lost a precious Indian life, and several Indian nationals have been injured, a couple of them seriously. We conveyed our strongest protest to the Iranian side on this matter, stating that these attacks must stop at the earliest,” he said during the media briefing.
Jaiswal called for de-escalation and urged Iran and the United States to return to the negotiating table and pursue dialogue and diplomacy to restore peace in West Asia.
“There should be de-escalation, and the two sides should come to the negotiating table and take the path of dialogue and diplomacy so that peace and stability can be ensured in West Asia,” he said.
In its statement issued earlier Tuesday, the Ministry of External Affairs extended its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased Indian national and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.
“Our Mission and Post in the UAE are closely monitoring the situation and are in touch with the UAE authorities to ensure all possible assistance to the affected Indian seafarers. The Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Iran in New Delhi was summoned this morning by the Ministry of External Affairs, and a strong protest against these attacks was lodged with him,” the statement said.
“We strongly condemn these attacks and acts of violence targeting seafarers and disrupting free and safe navigation through international waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz. We also reiterate our deep concern over the resumption of attacks and the escalation of hostilities in the West Asian region and call for an immediate cessation of violence and a return to dialogue and diplomacy in the interests of peace, security, and stability in the region,” it added.
The ministry said attacks on commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region must cease so that free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through international waterways, in accordance with international law, can be restored as soon as possible. (ANI)
About The Author
