New Delhi: Cautioning that the ongoing crisis in West Asia may spark serious supply chain disruptions, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar informed the Rajya Sabha on Monday that the interests of Indian consumers remain the government’s “overriding priority”.
Amid sloganeering by the Opposition, demanding a detailed discussion on the subject, Jaishankar noted that regional hostilities have intensified lately, prompting significant concerns regarding shipping lanes, energy supplies, and the flow of global trade, as reported by ANI.
The administration is vigilantly tracking the situation to evaluate its impact on the national economy and supply chains, he affirmed.
“Our government had issued a statement on February 20 expressing deep concern and urging all sides to exercise restraint,” the EAM said.
“We continue to believe that dialogue and diplomacy should be pursued to de-escalate the tensions,” Jaishankar added.
Underscoring the importance of “West Asia remaining stable and peaceful,” the minister noted that the region’s stability is vital for global energy markets and India’s economic welfare.
New Delhi is actively engaging with international partners while monitoring the situation, Jaishankar said, highlighting the government’s commitment to the well-being of the large community residing in the conflict zone.
Nearly 67,000 Indian nationals have already returned from the region as tensions have mounted, he informed the House.
The EAM also provided details of India’s decision to permit the Iranian vessel IRIS Lavan to dock at Kochi port following a request from Tehran. The vessel, which was among three ships seeking entry to Indian ports, received approval on March 1 and docked on March 4.
Jaishankar explained that the decision was made out of “humanity” rather than for geopolitical reasons, referring to his earlier comments at the Raisina Dialogue on Saturday,
The ship, carrying 183 crew members, mostly young cadets, had encountered a technical malfunction while at sea.
This humanitarian gesture occurred shortly before the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Dena was sunk by a US submarine in the Indian Ocean on March 4, an incident that resulted in over 80 fatalities. The Sri Lankan Navy rescued 32 personnel.
The EAM described the incident as “unfortunate” and noted that the warship had issued a distress signal, prompting India to deploy naval ships and a patrol aircraft for search and rescue operations.
He reaffirmed the decision to assist the IRIS Lavan, and said: “It was the right thing to do”, while calling for diplomatic engagement to avoid further regional escalation.
