New Delhi, Mar 9: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday told the Rajya Sabha that India believes “dialogue and diplomacy” must be pursued to de-escalate tensions in West Asia amid the ongoing conflict involving Israel, the United States and Iran.

Making a suo motu statement in the Upper House, the External Affairs Minister said the government is closely monitoring the deteriorating situation in the region and remains concerned about the safety of the large Indian community living there.

“The Government of India believed and continues to believe that ‘dialogue and diplomacy’ should be pursued to de-escalate tensions and address underlying issues,” Jaishankar said.

He also emphasised that “it is imperative that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states in the region be respected.”

Jaishankar informed the House that the Cabinet Committee on Security met on March 1 under the chairmanship of PM Narendra Modi to review the situation following airstrikes in Iran and subsequent attacks in several Gulf countries.

“The CCS was concerned over the safety and security of the Indian community in the region and also focused on the implications for regional security and economic activities,” he said.

The conflict has continued to intensify and the security situation in the region has deteriorated significantly.

He said that the Centre noted that, in fact, the conflict spread to other nations with mounting destruction and deaths.

Highlighting that the normal life and economic activities in the entire region are visibly affected and, in some cases, had come to a halt.

“Indian government, therefore, reiterated our call on 03 March for dialogue and diplomacy and spoke up for an early end to the conflict. I am confident that the House joins me in expressing our sorrow at the loss of lives,” he informed the House.

The committee also reviewed difficulties faced by Indian travellers and students in the region. “It directed all concerned Ministries and Departments to take appropriate measures to respond to these problems,” the minister said, adding that the Prime Minister continues to closely monitor the emerging developments.

“This round of conflict has witnessed not only fighting between Israel and the United States on one side and Iran on the other, but also attacks on a number of Gulf States,” he said.

“There have been numerous casualties, including at the leadership level in Iran, as well as destruction of infrastructure in the region,” the minister added.

Highlighting India’s stakes in the region, Jaishankar said nearly one crore Indians live and work in the Gulf countries, while several thousand Indians are in Iran for study and employment.

“Any development that negatively impacts peace and security in the world is deeply troubling, but this ongoing conflict is an issue of particular concern for India,” he said.

The Gulf region, he noted, is vital for India’s energy security and is also a major trade partner.

“The Gulf accounts for almost USD 200 billion in annual trade with India and the region is key to our energy security,” he said.

The minister said the Ministry of External Affairs had issued several advisories to Indian nationals in Iran and the wider region since early January, urging them to avoid non-essential travel and register with Indian missions.

Following the escalation, the Indian Embassy in Tehran relocated several Indian students from the capital to safer locations and assisted business travellers in crossing into Armenia to return home.

Jaishankar said a special control room has been set up by the ministry to monitor the situation and respond to queries from affected Indians and their families.

He informed the House that the government has also facilitated the return of thousands of Indian nationals stranded in transit hubs.

“As of yesterday, almost 67,000 of our nationals have returned,” Jaishankar said. He added that the government has been working with airlines to arrange additional flights to bring Indians home.

“There were 15 inbound flights on March 7, 49 flights on March 8, and 50 flights on March 9, operated by Indian carriers to bring back passengers from the region,” he said.

Jaishankar said the Prime Minister has spoken to several leaders in the region to ensure the safety of the Indian diaspora.

These include the leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan and Israel.

“In each case we received assurances that the well-being of the Indian community would be a priority for the host Government,” he said.

Jaishankar also confirmed that he has spoken to Iran’s Foreign Minister twice since the conflict began.

The External Affairs Minister outlined three guiding principles of India’s approach to the crisis, saying, “India is in favour of peace and urges a return to dialogue and diplomacy.The well-being and security of the Indian community in the region is our priority.Our national interest, including energy security and trade flows, will always be paramount.”