Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting on the West Asia conflict, with senior commanders from the Army, Navy, and Air Force among those present, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepared to address the Rajya Sabha on the crisis and its impact on India’s energy security later in the day.
The war, triggered by the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, in joint United States-Israeli strikes on February 28, has disrupted trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz, rattled global energy markets, and claimed the lives of some Indian nationals in the affected region.
Singh had earlier indicated India’s position while speaking in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, on March 21. He said India had taken a clear stand that the conflict must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, calling the ongoing attacks in West Asia a matter of concern not just for India but for the entire world.
PM Modi addressed the Lok Sabha on Monday, describing the situation as “worrisome” and warning of “unprecedented challenges” – economic, national security-related, and humanitarian.
“This conflict has been going on for more than three weeks. It has a severe impact on the global economy and the lives of the people, and that is why the world is urging all sides for an early resolution,” he said.
The Prime Minister noted that a large part of India’s crude oil and gas requirements are met by the war-affected region, and that West Asia also serves as a critical transit route for India’s trade with other parts of the world. Opposition parties were less impressed, calling Monday’s address a “master class in self-boasts and partisan dialogue-baazi.”