New Delhi: India has reiterated its stand on attacks on merchant vessels in the Gulf region after yet another Indian seafarer went missing off the coast of Oman.
New Delhi has made it clear that it opposes all attacks on merchant shipping and civilian infrastructure amid the West Asia conflict. Strikes on Saudi Arabia’s economic assets by Yemen’s Houthi rebels undermine regional stability and navigation through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the targeting of commercial shipping, mariners, civilians and civilian infrastructure in West Asia is unacceptable to India.
There were 14 Indian seafarers on the Panama-flagged tanker. While 13 were rescued, one is missing. Omani authorities have launched a search for him.
“Regarding the missing seafarer, this attack happened off the coast of Oman. It was a Panama-flagged vessel on which we had 14 Indian nationals or seafarers, of whom 13 have been rescued, and we deeply thank the Omani authorities for rescuing our nationals. One Indian national is missing; the seafarer was on board. Search and rescue operations continue with the help of the Omani authorities,” Jaiswal said.
“Let me say that targeting of commercial shipping, seafarers, civilians and civilian infrastructure in the region is unacceptable to us. We also urge that free and safe navigation and flow of commerce through international waterways in the region be restored at the earliest,” he said.
He also referred to a meeting between external affairs minister S Jaishankar and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on the sidelines of the recently concluded BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
“He [Jaishankar] discussed several issues, regional developments as also international developments and the issue of the Houthis was also discussed,” the MEA spokesperson said.
“We are deeply concerned with the escalation in the situation in the Red Sea region. We have condemned the attack on Saudi sovereign territory, including on the civilian infrastructure and economic assets,” Jaiswal said.
“I would say that such attacks undermine regional stability and threaten freedom of navigation through the Bab el-Mandeb. These are obviously unacceptable to us. We hope there is early restoration of peace and stability in the region,” he said.
Jaiswal, however, noted that India continues to receive energy supplies from the region.
Last week, India condemned Houthi attacks on energy facilities belonging to oil giant Saudi Aramco that triggered fires at multiple oil installations and injured 73 people. The Iran-backed Houthis also attacked Saudi Arabia’s 1,200-km East-West oil pipeline, resulting in the temporary closure of the facility and affecting up to 5% of global oil supply.
The importance of the Bab el-Mandeb has grown for Saudi energy exports following Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Despite India’s increased purchases of Russian oil, Saudi Arabia remains among the country’s top three energy suppliers.
Ten seafarers are among the 16 Indians killed so far in the West Asia conflict. Indian seafarers make up more than 12% of the global merchant shipping workforce, second only to Philippine nationals.
