Middle East conflict: PM condemns attacks, urges de-escalation | India News
PM Modi condemns strikes on Qatar energy infrastructure during talks with Amir Al Thani
NEW DELHI: PM Modi spoke to the leaders of Qatar, Oman, Jordan, France and Malaysia to underline the urgent need for de-escalation and return to dialogue and diplomacy. After his talks with Qatar’s Amir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Modi said Delhi stood in solidarity with Doha and strongly condemned the attacks on energy infrastructure, while underlining the importance of free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.Qatar is also the largest supplier of LNG to India, accounting for over 40% of our LNG imports. MEA said that with the latest attacks, gas imports, important for piped supply, would be impacted.Modi said after talks with Jordan’s King Abdullah II that attacks on energy infrastructure in West Asia were condemnable and could lead to avoidable escalation. The PM didn’t name Israel or Iran. “India and Jordan stand in support of unhindered transit of goods and energy,” PM posted on X.Govt separately said that such attacks on energy installations are unacceptable and need to cease. It recalled that it had previously called for avoiding the targeting of civilian infrastructure, including energy infrastructure, across the region.“Recent attacks against energy installations in different locations across this region are therefore deeply disturbing and only serve to further destabilise an already uncertain energy scenario for the whole world,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.After having spoken to UAE and Kuwait leaders, Modi also spoke to Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq on Thursday and reiterated India’s condemnation of the violation of Oman’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and appreciated Oman’s efforts to facilitate the safe return of thousands of people, including Indian nationals. Oman is another important source of LNG and crude pet-roleum oil for India.“We agreed on the need to prioritise dialogue and diplomacy for de-escalation and subsequent restoration of peace and stability,” Modi wrote on X, adding that India and Oman stand for safe and free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.After a conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, the PM said both leaders would continue their close coordination to advance peace and stability in the region and beyond. Modi also spoke to Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim and stressed the need for urgent de-escalation. Foreign minister S Jaishankar met UAE minister of state for international cooperation, Reem Al Hashimy, to discuss developments in the conflict.On LNG supply, Jaiswal said, “And it has been impacted because of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. But we are in discussions with several countries.”
