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New Delhi, India, March 23: The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday said that nearly 375,000 passengers have returned to India from West Asia since February 28 amid continued regional instability.
Briefing the media on the situation, Aseem Mahajan, Joint Secretary (Gulf), said that airlines are operating limited, non-scheduled flights between the United Arab Emirates and India based on operational and safety assessments. Approximately 95 such flights are expected to operate from various UAE airports on Monday.
Mahajan said flight operations from the Oman and Saudi Arabia to India are continuing, while the airspace of the Qatar remains partially open, with Qatar Airways likely to operate 8–10 non-scheduled commercial flights to India. Airspaces in the Kuwait and Bahrain remain closed due to the conflict.
He added that India is facilitating the movement of nationals stranded in Iran through alternative routes via Armenia and Azerbaijan. Several Indian students in Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz have been relocated to safer areas.
“Till date, 1,031 Indians — including 707 students and 324 other citizens — have crossed out of Iran with the assistance of our mission,” he said. He added that the government continues to monitor the situation closely and extend support to affected citizens.
The latest developments come in the backdrop of escalating tensions that began on February 28 following the killing of 86-year-old Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in joint military strikes by the United States and Israel. Iran subsequently launched retaliatory strikes on US and Israeli assets across several Gulf states, disrupting maritime routes and impacting global energy markets.
Amid the hostilities, Iran has also virtually closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global oil shipments, adding to concerns over regional security and economic stability.
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