Thursday marked another chapter in India’s deft West Asia diplomacy, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in phone talks with Oman’s Sayyid Badr Albusaidi. The duo dissected the intensifying regional hostilities, from tanker strikes to retaliatory airstrikes, seeking avenues for calm.
A succinct X post from Jaishankar captured the essence: a discussion on West Asia’s precarious state. This builds on PM Modi’s March 3 call to Sultan Haitham, condemning threats to Omani integrity and appreciating aid to Indian nationals, with mutual resolve for ongoing peace diplomacy.
Central to concerns is the March 2 drone boat strike on an oil tanker off Oman, 52 nautical miles out. The 59,463-metric-ton cargo ship erupted in flames, killing an Indian sailor. Of 21 rescued—16 Indians, 4 Bangladeshis, 1 Ukrainian—all are safe, patrolled by Oman’s Royal Navy.
Tensions ignited February 28 via US-Israel strikes on Iran’s military backbone, slaying top commanders near Supreme Leader Khamenei. Tehran’s drone-missile fury targeted US bases and allies, sowing regional pandemonium.
India’s voice carries heft here, balancing relations amid energy dependencies and diaspora safety. Oman’s mediation history makes it an ideal partner. These exchanges signal New Delhi’s push for dialogue over discord, potentially influencing global responses to avert a broader conflagration.