Govt monitors West Asia conflict; airspace closure clouds evacuation plans

PM Modi to chair CCS meeting tonight as West Asia conflict deepens

The government is closely monitoring the escalating conflict in West Asia after the United Arab Emirates reported that Indians were among those injured in Iranian missile strikes. With hostilities intensifying and airspace across parts of the region shut, any evacuation of Indians from West Asian countries is currently impractical, official sources said.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to chair a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in the national capital on Sunday night to review the deepening crisis. It is expected to assess the safety of nearly 10 million Indians living in the region and examine the potential impact of the conflict on India’s energy security. Apart from the PM, the CCS comprises Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. 

 

The government has also taken note of protests in several parts of India, including Uttar Pradesh, Telangana and Jammu and Kashmir, over the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli attack.

 

On Saturday evening, Jaishankar had reached out to foreign ministers of Gulf countries, urging them to ensure the welfare of the Indian community. He held telephonic conversations with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud; Kuwait’s Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah; Bahrain’s Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani; Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani; and UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.

 

Jaishankar also spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and Israel’s Gideon Sa'ar, reiterating India’s call for dialogue and diplomacy to de-escalate tensions. In a statement on Saturday evening, the Ministry of External Affairs said, “India is deeply concerned at the recent developments in Iran and the Gulf region.” It appealed to “all sides to exercise restraint, avoid escalation, and prioritise the safety of civilians.”

 

“Dialogue and diplomacy should be pursued to de-escalate tensions and address underlying issues. Sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states must be respected,” the statement said, adding that Indian missions in the region are in touch with nationals and have issued advisories asking them to remain vigilant, stay in contact with missions, and follow local security guidance.

 

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday appealed for calm in the Union Territory. Protests broke out in several parts of the UT against the killing of Khamenei in a US-Israel strike, officials said. Thousands of protesters took to the streets across most of Kashmir and in pockets of Jammu. Chief ministers of several states, including Kerala and Tamil Nadu, urged the Centre to ensure the safety of Indians living in West Asia.

 

Amid flight cancellations following the escalating security situation, India on Sunday asked foreign nationals in the country to approach relevant authorities for visa extensions. The Ministry of External Affairs issued an advisory for those impacted by travel disruptions, asking them to contact the nearest Foreigners Regional Registration Office if they require assistance with visa extensions or need to regularise their stay. Hundreds of flights have been disrupted across West Asia, including India, due to airspace restrictions after the US and Israel attacked Iran on Saturday.

 

The Congress on Sunday said the government’s response to the war unleashed on Iran amounted to a betrayal of India’s values, principles and interests, alleging that the country is paying a heavy price for both the substance and style of Modi’s foreign policy. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, “Modi visited Israel on February 25-26, 2026, at a time when the entire world was aware that a US-Israel military attack on Iran for regime change was imminent. The assault began just two days after Mr Modi left Israel, where his speech to the Knesset was a display of shameful moral cowardice.”

 

“The Modi government's response to the war unleashed on Iran that has involved targeted assassinations has been a betrayal of India's values, principles, concerns, and interests," he alleged.

 

The Iranian embassy in India on Sunday urged governments worldwide to strongly condemn the US-Israel attack on Iran and the killing of Khamenei. “The embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in India calls upon independent and freedom-seeking governments around the world to strongly condemn this blatant crime and to refrain from remaining silent in the face of lawlessness and aggression,” the mission said.