NEW DELHI: Describing the ongoing conflict in West Asia as “an issue of particular concern”, given that the region houses a crore Indians and holds the key to India’s energy security, external affairs minister S Jaishankar on Monday told Parliament that New Delhi’s approach would be guided by “national interest”.”Our national interest, including energy security and trade flows, will always be paramount,” Jaishankar said while making a statement on the security situation in West Asia in both Houses of Parliament. He also pointed to India’s pitch for de-escalation and return to dialogue and diplomacy, and identified the well-being and security of the Indian community in the region as the govt’s priority.The statement made no concession to the demand by Congress and others in opposition for condemnation of the US and Israel for attacking Iran and killing its supreme leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei.However, Jaishankar said India had promptly accepted the requests from three Iranian naval vessels to dock at Indian ports. The Iranian side requested permission on Feb 28 (the day the conflict began) and it was granted on March 1, he said. “We believe that this was the right thing to do and the Iranian foreign minister has expressed his country’s thanks for this humane gesture,” he said. One Iranian vessel, IRIS Lavan, docked in Kochi on March 4 and its crew is currently in Indian naval facilities, he said. Jaishankar disclosed that IRIS Dena – sunk by a US submarine off the Sri Lankan coast on March 4 – along with two sister ships, IRIS Bushehr and IRIS Lavan, had been permitted to dock at Indian ports.While Dena and Bushehr chose not to avail of the permission they had sought, IRS Lavan is docked at Kochi port. The sinking of frigate Dena, while she was returning from a naval exercise in India, had triggered concerns about the expansion of the conflict to the Indian Ocean Region.The minister’s stress on “national interest” being the paramount consideration was being seen as indicative of govt’s decision not to condemn Israel, which has emerged as a reliable security partner, or disregard the threat it faces from Iran – which has vowed to annihilate Israel – and its terror proxies.Also, many in govt don’t agree with opposition’s framing of Khamenei as a ‘friend of India’, and point to the slain Ayatollah’s meddling in the J&K issue, including his description of the abrogation of Article 370 as “ugly”, and bracketing India with places like Gaza and Myanmar where Muslims were suffering.The importance of ties with the US and the volatility they have acquired under the Trump administration was another consideration for the govt to tread carefully.While reiterating India’s repeated calls for an early end to the conflict that has witnessed mounting casualties, “including at the leadership level in Iran, as well as destruction of infrastructure in the region”, Jaishankar said, “I am confident that the House joins me in expressing sorrow at the loss of lives.””We believed and continue to believe that dialogue and diplomacy should be pursued to de-escalate tensions and address underlying issues… it is also imperative that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states in the region be respected,” he said.The minister added that the CCS, at its meeting on March 3, discussed the airstrikes in Iran and the subsequent attacks in several Gulf countries and expressed concerns regarding the safety and security of the Indian community in the region. “The committee was apprised of difficulties faced by Indian travellers transiting the region and by students appearing for scheduled examinations in these countries. It directed all ministries and departments concerned to take appropriate measures to respond to these problems,” he said.Jaishankar also mentioned the attacks on merchant shipping, “where Indian nationals often constitute a large proportion of the crews”. He said two Indian mariners have already been lost to such attacks, while another is missing.Sharing that PM Narendra Modi “continues to closely monitor emerging developments” and maintains contact with the leadership of affected countries, while relevant ministries coordinate to ensure effective response, Jaishankar said India remains alert and committed to ensuring safety of its citizens affected by the conflict, having operated around a hundred flights so far to bring back those stranded or looking to return home. He added that at the same time, the country is alive to the need to protect its energy security and commerce.While Jaishankar’s statement in the Rajya Sabha came amid a walkout by the opposition members, Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day shortly after it reassembled at 3pm, following an earlier adjournment amid opposition protest that broke out as soon as Jaishankar rose to make the statement.
