NEW DELHI: After condemning attacks on the United Arab Emirates, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday spoke to the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain and condemned Iran’s military attacks on these countries. Although he did not name Iran, he expressed deep dissatisfaction with Tehran’s indiscriminate targeting of Gulf countries. The prime minister spoke to Israeli Foreign Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the early hours of Monday morning and stressed the need for an early cessation of hostilities. Modi also mentioned the situation in West Asia during his meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Carney. Modi later stated in a media speech that India will continue to cooperate with various countries to protect all Indian citizens in the region. The Prime Minister also spoke to King Abdullah II of Jordan, conveying India’s concerns and expressing solidarity, and in all his conversations he discussed the welfare of the Indian community as reports of an attack on an oil tanker off the coast of Oman, resulting in the first Indian casualty, heightened concerns for their safety.
Prime Minister Modi: India always calls for peace and tranquility “India’s view on the many tensions in the world is clear. We have always called for peace and tranquility. When two democracies stand together, the voice of peace becomes stronger,” Modi said after meeting Carni. He added that the situation in West Asia is a matter of deep concern to India. In his meeting with Netanyahu, Modi conveyed India’s concerns about recent developments and emphasized that the safety of civilians is the top priority. News channels quoted the Israeli prime minister as saying he thanked Modi for standing with Israel. “India condemns the recent attacks on Saudi Arabia as a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We agree that it is crucial to restore peace and stability in the region at the earliest. I thank him for looking after the welfare of the Indian community during these difficult times,” Modi said in a post on X after meeting with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammad Bin Salman. Modi also condemned the attack on Bahrain, saying India stood with its people at this difficult time. He thanked both leaders for taking care of the Indian community. India’s initial response on Saturday was limited to calling on countries to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, with Modi condemning the Iranian attack, which reflected India’s strategic interests being aligned more with Gulf Cooperation Council countries than with Iran. India has so far neither condemned the attack on Iran nor expressed condolences over the killing of its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. For India, it is imperative to work with the Gulf countries to ensure the well-being of its nearly 10 million overseas diaspora, a major source of remittances, and to ensure its energy security. Connectivity, defence, maritime security and supply chain resilience are other areas where India is working closely with the Gulf states. Modi has personally led outreach to the Gulf over the past decade, deepening ties with the region more than with other countries. India’s foreign minister also spoke to his counterparts from all six GCC countries after the war broke out on Saturday, expressing concerns and underlining India’s stake in regional stability and the well-being of the Indian community. However, he stopped short of condemning the attacks.
