India calls for early end to escalating West Asia crisis

way2barak, March 4: India on Tuesday expressed anxiety over the expanding West Asia conflict, apprehensive of the economic impact of the disruption in trade and energy

supply chains and the well-being of over a crore Indians who live and work in the Gulf region.

In a more detailed second statement on the West Asia conflict that has engulfed the entire Gulf and beyond, the external affairs ministry said: “As a proximate neighbour with critical stakes in the security and stability of the region, these developments evoke great anxiety. There are almost one crore Indian citizens who live and work in the Gulf region. Their safety and well-being is of utmost priority. We cannot be impervious to any development that negatively affects them.

“Our trade and energy supply chains also traverse this geography. Any major disruption has serious consequences for the Indian economy. As a country whose nationals are prominent in the global workforce, India is also firmly opposed to attacks on merchant shipping. Already, some Indian nationals have lost their lives or are missing as a result of such attacks in the last few days.”

Iterating India’s call for dialogue and diplomacy, the statement said: “We raise our voice clearly in favour of an early end to the conflict.”