Stories
India Demands UNSC Protect 10 Million Indians in Gulf Amid Rising Middle East Tensions
- •India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, addressed a UN Security Council debate, calling the escalating Middle East situation deeply worrying.
- •New Delhi highlighted that around 10 million Indian nationals live in GCC countries, making their safety and security a core national interest.
- •India strongly condemned recent attacks on civilian infrastructure and commercial shipping, including the India-flagged vessel MV DP World Kaveri, which put Indian seafarers at risk.
- •An Indian citizen named Mohammed Yusuf Ali was tragically killed in Riyadh due to recent attacks, prompting India to express complete solidarity with Saudi Arabia.
- •India reiterated the need for immediate de-escalation, dialogue, diplomacy, and the protection of freedom of navigation in international waterways.
Key Questions Answered
India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, stated during a UN Security Council debate that approximately 10 million Indians reside in GCC countries, and their safety, security, and well-being remain a core interest and a vital part of bilateral relationships for New Delhi.
India strongly condemned recurring attacks on civilian infrastructure that caused casualties—including the death of Indian national Mohammad Yousef Ali in Riyadh—as well as recent strikes on commercial vessels such as the India-flagged MV DP World Kaveri, MT Petro Dolphin, and MT Walthera.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed establishing a Seafarers' Emergency Support Network at the BRICS Summit to connect maritime authorities and embassies for distress alerts and medical assistance. Additionally, India and Liberia launched the Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers at the UN General Assembly to strengthen international coordination.
