External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar informed the Rajya Sabha on Monday, March 9, 2026, that 67,000 Indian nationals have successfully returned to India following the eruption of hostilities in West Asia on February 28. Despite significant airspace closures across the Gulf, the government has utilized brief operational windows to facilitate both scheduled and non-scheduled commercial flights.
Key Highlights of the Repatriation Effort
- Massive Scale: As of March 8, approximately 67,000 citizens—largely transit passengers, short-term visitors, and students—have returned home.
- Tehran Assistance: The Indian Embassy in Tehran has been on high alert, facilitating the relocation of Indian students to safer areas outside the capital and assisting business travelers in exiting via Armenia.
- Airbridge Operations: Over the last week, Indian carriers like Air India and IndiGo have operated dozens of special flights daily from hubs like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, and Jeddah as regional skies cautiously reopen.
- Loss of Life: The Minister somberly confirmed that two Indian mariners have been killed and one remains missing following attacks on merchant shipping in high-risk waters.
Diplomatic Safeguards & National Security
Minister Jaishankar outlined that the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by PM Narendra Modi, is monitoring the situation around the clock.
“PM Modi has personally spoken to the heads of state of the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Jordan, Israel, and Bahrain. In each case, we received assurances that the well-being of the Indian community would be the host countries’ priority.” — EAM S. Jaishankar
Strategic Concerns: Energy & Economy
The Minister warned that while the safety of the 10 million Indians in the Gulf is paramount, the government is also alert to the broader economic impact:
- Energy Security: The region is a vital supplier of oil and gas; the government is monitoring global crude prices to protect Indian consumers from supply chain shocks.
- Merchant Shipping: India has taken a firm stance against attacks on commercial vessels, emphasizing that trade lanes must remain open.
- Humanitarian Gesture: Jaishankar defended the decision to allow the Iranian vessel IRIS Lavan to dock at Kochi port for repairs, citing “humanity” as the driving factor.