Government Calls All-party Meeting On West Asia Crisis on March 25

New Delhi: The Government of India has called for an all-party meeting on the West Asian crisis to be held on March 25 (Wednesday) at 17:00. Earlier today, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a review meeting in the wake of recent global and regional security events and also to review India’s defense preparedness. CDS General Anil Chauhan, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, General Upendra Dwivedi, Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) Chairman Samir Kamat and others were also present at the meeting. The ongoing conflict in West Asia has entered its fourth week, disrupting trade routes in the Strait of Hormuz.

Tensions increased after the 86-year-old Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a joint military attack by the USA and Israel on February 28. In retaliation, Iran targeted Israeli and US assets in several Gulf states, causing further disruptions to waterways and affecting international energy markets as well as global economic stability.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to make a statement in the Rajya Sabha today on various aspects of the ongoing conflict and India’s energy security. A day earlier, Prime Minister Modi briefed the members in the Lok Sabha about the developments in West Asia and their potential impact on India. He described the situation as “alarming”. He underlined that the ongoing conflict poses unprecedented challenges, not only economic and national security, but also humanitarian. Referring to the global challenges arising from conflicts and India’s commercial relations with war-torn countries in West Asia, the Prime Minister stated that most of the country’s crude oil and gas needs are met from the war-affected region. Opposition parties, on the other hand, called it a “master class in self-aggrandisement and partisan dialogue-baazi (dramatic dialogue)”. Prime Minister Modi said, “The situation in West Asia is alarming. This conflict has been going on for more than three weeks. It has a serious impact on the global economy and people’s lives and therefore the world urges all parties to find an early solution to this conflict.” he said.

Providing information about India’s commercial relations with countries that witnessed war in the West Asian region, the Prime Minister stated that most of the country’s crude oil and gas needs are met from the war-affected region. He stated that the region maintains its importance in terms of creating a route for India’s trade with other countries.