Prime Minister Narendra Modi has intensified his diplomatic outreach in the Middle East, holding urgent telephone conversations with Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman and the Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah.

These high-level discussions, held on 3 March 2026, come in the wake of significant military escalations between US-Israeli forces and Iran.

The Prime Minister expressed his profound concern regarding the recent missile and drone strikes that have impacted several Gulf nations, violating their sovereignty and threatening regional stability.

A primary focus of these calls was the welfare and security of the substantial Indian community residing in both Oman and Kuwait. With millions of Indian nationals living and working across the Gulf, New Delhi is increasingly preoccupied with ensuring their safety as the conflict spills over into civilian and commercial hubs.

The Prime Minister reportedly sought assurances from the Gulf leaders regarding the protection of the diaspora and discussed potential contingency plans, including the facilitation of evacuation flights if the security situation deteriorates further.

The regional volatility was triggered by a coordinated US-Israeli offensive against Iran on 28 February, which reportedly led to the death of the Iranian Supreme Leader. In retaliation, Tehran has launched a series of projectile attacks targeting not only military installations but also major business and aviation centres, including Dubai and Doha.

Both Oman and Kuwait, traditionally seen as neutral mediators in regional disputes, have found themselves geographically and strategically vulnerable as the "grey zone" of the conflict expands across the Arabian Peninsula.

During his dialogue with Sultan Haitham, Prime Minister Modi underscored India’s long-standing strategic partnership with Oman and condemned the attacks that have endangered civilian infrastructure. Similarly, in his conversation with the Kuwaiti Crown Prince, he reiterated India’s solidarity with the Kuwaiti people.

These calls follow a flurry of diplomatic activity over the last 48 hours, during which Mr Modi has also spoken with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, and the UAE to forge a collective understanding on regional security.

While India has maintained a delicate diplomatic balance throughout the crisis, the Prime Minister’s recent statements have increasingly focused on the violation of territorial integrity within the GCC states.

The Indian government has already initiated "Operation Sahayata" to evacuate stranded citizens from high-risk zones, with several special flights already landing in Delhi and Mumbai. New Delhi continues to monitor the situation through a dedicated control room, as global energy markets and maritime trade routes in the Strait of Hormuz remain under significant threat.

PTI