New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in high-level telephonic diplomacy on Tuesday, speaking with Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman and Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah. The conversations focused on the deteriorating security situation in West Asia following a massive coordinated offensive by the United States and Israel against Iran.
The Prime Minister expressed grave concern over recent attacks affecting Oman and Kuwait, which have seen retaliatory drone and missile strikes from Iran. This regional volatility follows the reported death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during the U.S.-Israeli strikes. In response, Tehran has targeted military and civilian hubs across the Gulf, including major business centers like Dubai and Doha.
A primary focus of the Prime Minister’s outreach was the welfare and security of the millions of Indian nationals residing in the Gulf region. Modi sought assurances from the two leaders regarding the safety of the Indian community as the conflict threatens to violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of neutral neighboring states.
These calls are part of a broader diplomatic marathon by New Delhi. Over the past 48 hours, PM Modi has also consulted with the King of Bahrain, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah II of Jordan, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Throughout these dialogues, India has maintained a stance of solidarity with its regional partners while calling for a de-escalation of the violence that has now effectively shuttered the Strait of Hormuz.
