More than 1,200 Indian nationals have been safely evacuated from Iran amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.
Addressing an inter-ministerial briefing in the national capital, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that of the total evacuees, 845 are students.
He added that 996 Indian nationals have been moved to Armenia, while 204 have been taken to Azerbaijan, from where arrangements are being made for their return to India.
The MEA is working in close coordination with Indian missions and local authorities in both countries to facilitate safe transit and repatriation.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been engaging with global leaders to discuss developments related to the West Asia situation. On March 28, the Prime Minister held talks with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, during which both leaders exchanged views on the conflict.
The Prime Minister also condemned attacks on energy infrastructure in the region and stressed the need to ensure secure and open shipping lanes.
In a separate update, the MEA said that since February 28, around 6.24 lakh passengers have returned to India from the West Asia region amid the evolving security situation.
Aseem R. Mahajan, Additional Secretary (Gulf) in the MEA, said airlines are operating limited non-scheduled flights between the UAE and India, depending on operational and safety considerations. Around 90 flights are expected to operate from the UAE to various Indian destinations on Thursday.
The ministry also shared an update on an Indian national injured in the UAE, reiterating that the safety, security, and welfare of Indians abroad remain a top priority for the government.
-ANI
