New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh)— India has initiated high-level consultations with fellow BRICS members to develop a unified position on the deepening conflict in West Asia, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on Friday, March 13, 2026. As the current chair of the expanded bloc, New Delhi is attempting to bridge diplomatic gaps within the group following persistent calls from Tehran for a stronger multilateral response to the U.S.-Israeli strikes.
MEA Additional Secretary Randhir Jaiswal stated that India is in active contact with BRICS partners to ensure that a “consensus position can evolve.” This diplomatic push coincides with India’s broader effort to manage the fallout of the war, which has seen the first land-based Indian fatalities in Oman and a massive displacement of the Indian diaspora.
Diplomatic Strategy: BRICS and Regional Stability
The move to leverage BRICS comes after a series of high-stakes conversations between Indian and Iranian leadership.
- Modi-Pezeshkian Dialogue: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Thursday night, emphasizing India’s priorities: the safety of its citizens and the protection of vital energy and trade routes like the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
- Jaishankar-Araghchi Talks: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held his fourth conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi since February 28. Araghchi urged BRICS to play a “constructive and strong” role in condemning military aggression and restoring regional security.
- India’s Stance: While Iran has pushed for a sharp condemnation of the U.S. and Israel, India has consistently advocated for a return to “dialogue and diplomacy,” seeking a balanced statement that avoids an overtly anti-Western tilt within the BRICS framework.
Evacuation and Citizen Safety: The Human Cost
The MEA provided a grim update on the humanitarian situation facing Indian nationals in the conflict zone:
- Total Evacuations: Approximately 1.5 lakh (150,000) Indian citizens have returned from various West Asian countries since hostilities began on February 28.
- Fatalities in Oman: In a tragic development, two Indian nationals were killed and 10 others injured on Friday when drones struck an industrial zone in Sohar, Oman. These represent the first Indian deaths on land during this conflict.
- Transit via Armenia: Around 1,170 Indian nationals have successfully crossed the land border from Iran into Armenia. Facilitated by the Indian Embassy in Tehran, many have already flown back to India via commercial routes.
- Control Room Activity: The MEA’s 24/7 control room has handled roughly 900 calls and 200 emails since March 4. Officials noted that while the volume of queries is declining, the mission remains on high alert.
The Challenges of the BRICS Presidency
India’s 2026 presidency of BRICS—now including members like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Iran—is being tested by this crisis. While Russia, China, and Iran are pushing for the bloc to act as a geopolitical counterweight to the West, India is striving to maintain its “bridge-builder” status, ensuring the organization remains focused on economic stability and humanitarian concerns rather than becoming an ideological battleground.
