PM Modi reviews situation in West Asia and evacuations after attacks subside

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the United Arab Emirates, spoke on Sunday and condemned attacks against the country, the first time he has spoken to Gulf leaders since the United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran.“Speaking with the President of the UAE, my brother Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Strongly condemned the attacks on the UAE and expressed condolences for the loss of life in these attacks. India stands with the UAE in these difficult times,” Modi said, while thanking him for taking care of the Indian community in the UAE. Modi did not name Iran, which has fired hundreds of projectiles at the UAE in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli attacks that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has engaged his counterparts from all GCC countries – Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman – to express India’s concerns over the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the Gulf and discuss the welfare of the Indian community in the region. Modi also assessed the situation in West Asia at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) after returning to Delhi on Sunday evening. CCS is the highest decision-making body on national security and defense issues.However, with airspace closed in the region and road travel deemed unsafe, the government advises Indian nationals in Iran and elsewhere to exercise a high level of caution and follow local safety guidance.In any case, evacuation will be complicated as there are nearly 10 million Indian nationals in the Gulf. India hopes the airstrikes will subside in the coming days, although they intensified on Sunday following the killing of Khamenei.The Indian Embassy in the UAE confirmed that an Indian national was injured in the Iranian attack but added that the person was out of danger and was receiving assistance from hospital authorities. Meanwhile, the Iranian Embassy in India called on “independent and freedom-seeking governments” around the world to strongly condemn the killing of Khamenei and not remain silent in the face of “lawlessness and aggression.”However, India did not express condolences until late at night. Russia and China were among the few countries to condemn the killings or express condolences. With close ties to both sides including the US-Israel coalition and Iran, India is forced to play a delicate balancing act, reflected in its call on Saturday for restraint and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries.