Responding to questions during a media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government was holding discussions with several nations to maintain the country’s energy security.
He also reiterated India’s long-standing position on the conflict, stating, “India has always been advocating for maintaining peace. India still says we should adopt diplomacy and discussion.”
Jaiswal further said details regarding the proposed meeting of BRICS foreign ministers in New Delhi would be shared later.
No incident involving Indian seafarers
Speaking on maritime operations, Opesh Kumar Sharma, Director, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said that the government is continuously coordinating with the MEA, Indian missions abroad and maritime stakeholders in the region.
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According to Sharma, all Indian seafarers in the Gulf region are safe, and there has been no incident involving Indian-flagged merchant vessels or Indian crew members aboard foreign-flagged ships in the past three days.
He informed that nearly 10 Indian-flagged vessels and one foreign-flagged vessel carrying Indian cargo had safely reached India through the Strait of Hormuz. Sharma also clarified that India had not paid any taxes on these transits.
He added that around 13 Indian-flagged ships remain in the region and that authorities are monitoring the welfare and requirements of crew members on a daily basis.
Control rooms active, repatriation continues
The Directorate General of Shipping’s control room has received 8,889 calls and over 19,758 emails since becoming operational.
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Sharma said 21 calls and 112 emails were received in the past 24 hours, while 152 calls and 444 emails were recorded over the last 72 hours.
The ministry has also facilitated the safe return of more than 3,096 seafarers from various Gulf locations so far, including 27 in the past 24 hours and 77 during the last three days. He added that port operations across India remain normal with no congestion reported.
Embassies, consulates running round-the-clock helplines
Aseem R Mahajan, Additional Secretary (Gulf), MEA, said that the government is in constant touch with the Indian missions abroad, the local authorities and community groups to assist Indian nationals in the region.
The Centre is also coordinating with the state governments, Union Territories to assist in bringing back the Indian nationals.
He said embassies and consulates were operating round-the-clock helplines and issuing regular advisories related to travel, flights and consular services.
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