India on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, and hoped the development will encourage peace efforts in Ukraine.
Addressing an inter-ministerial briefing on recent developments in West Asia in the national capital, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Ministry continues to closely monitor the situation in West Asia. “India has consistently emphasised de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy to end the conflict, which has caused humanitarian distress and disrupted global energy supply and trade. It has also stressed the need for uninterrupted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and reaffirmed its commitment to peace and stability, while hoping such developments support peace efforts in Ukraine,” he said.
“We welcome the ceasefire reached and hope that it leads to a lasting peace in West Asia as we have continuously advocated earlier,” the MEA spokesperson said.
“We expect that unimpeded freedom of navigation and global flow of commerce would prevail through the Strait of Hormuz. We welcome all steps that lead to peace and stability,” the MEA spokesperson said.
During the briefing, he declined to comment on Pakistan’s diplomatic role in facilitating the ceasefire.
On the Indian expatriates in the Gulf countries, Jaiswal informed media persons that about 7.88 lakh of them have returned to India from West Asia since February 28. “Ensuring the safety and welfare of the Indian community remains a top priority. A 24 hour control room is operational, with missions providing helplines, advisories and assistance on visas, transit and logistics,” he said.
“Flights from open airspaces continue, with about 7.88 lakh passengers having travelled to India since February 28. Evacuation from restricted regions is being facilitated through neighbouring countries. In Iran, where around 7,500 Indians remain, a fresh advisory urges early exit, and 1,864 nationals have already been evacuated via Armenia and Azerbaijan,” the MEA spokesperson further said.
Even as the ceasefire was announced, India’s embassy in Tehran issued a fresh advisory, asking compatriots to leave Iran at the earliest. The mission urged them to follow routes suggested by the embassy and avoid heading to land borders without prior coordination. “In continuation of the advisory of 07 April 2026, and in light of recent developments, Indian nationals still in Iran are strongly advised to expeditiously exit Iran, in coordination with the Embassy and using the routes suggested by the Embassy.”