New Delhi: As the conflict in the Middle East creates shortage in the global gas supply, the Union Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday revealed several neighbouring nations have asked India for help with petroleum supplies.
What did the MEA say on the help?
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “On Bangladesh, we continue to supply energy requirements to them since 2007. We have also recently supplied 38,000 metric tonnes of petroleum products to Sri Lanka, based on their request. We have ongoing engagement with Nepal and Bhutan, which continues.”
He also said, “The government of the Maldives has also reached out to us for the supply of petroleum products, both on a short-term and long-term basis. These requests are being examined, keeping in mind our own availability and needs.”
The security of Indians
About the safety of the Indians in the region, Jaiswal said, “Around 10 million Indians live in the GCC countries. All of them are safe, and we remain in constant communication with them. It is unfortunate that, so far, eight Indians have been killed in this conflict, and one is still missing.”
The MEA spokesperson also said, “Here at the Ministry of External Affairs, in coordination with our Ministry of Shipping and all our Indian embassies in the region, we are dedicated to safeguarding the security and interests of our citizens. We are closely monitoring all developments and activities related to the Gulf region, this ongoing conflict, and the Strait of Hormuz.”
Jaiswal, while speaking on the evacuation efforts in the Middle East to save Indian citizens, said, “Several of our Indian nationals 204, to be precise have been able to leave Iran for Azerbaijan through the land border, and from there, they will be coming back home. Several of them have already returned, while others will do so over the next few days. We are thankful to the government of Azerbaijan for its support in facilitating the exit of Indian nationals from Iran.”